It is CPBigwood’s pre-Christmas “sale” and already the bargain hunters are out in force.

A total of 129 lots are set to go under the hammer at the firm’s latest auction at Aston Villa Football Club on Thursday, December 11.

“From the moment they went online our phones just lit up!” said Jonathan Hackett, Partner and Head of Auctions.

“There are 70 residential vacant possession properties in Santa’s sack, many of which have extremely low guide prices.”

There are eight lots of land for Birmingham City Council, five for Wolverhampton Council, three from Sandwell Council and a repeat Solihull Council offer.

Some prestige locations are already creating big interest – a substantial four bedroom detached on a large corner plot at 326 Orphanage Road, Sutton Coldfield, has a guide price of £295,000-£325,000 while situated on the very popular Russell Road, Moseley, again on a large plot with development potential, No.4 has a guide of £375,000-£425,000.

If you fancy living like a lord there is a unique opportunity to buy part of a Georgian mansion at a Grade I Listed hall in Staffordshire.

Unit 10 forms part of the Patshull Hall Estate, Burnhill Green, and is available for just £75,000 – part-finished it is designed as four bed-roomed accommodation.

Dating back to around 1730, the Hall was once owned by a retired Governor of Madras while the 340 acre park, complete with serpentine lake, was created by Capability Brown. Sadly, much of the estate was eventually broken up, many acres were sold, and various usages came and went including rehabilitation centre, orthopaedic hospital, school and wedding venue – the latter business fell into administration last year. At one stage the mansion ended up on the English Heritage list of buildings at risk but has also seen large amounts spent on restoration.

Alternatively you could go for something in its own way equally challenging – a Grade II Listed former Pump House in Cape Hill being put into the auction on behalf of Persimmon Homes – the company is building extensively at the old M&B Brewery site. Interested parties are being warned to take note that “the building’s retention is required as a condition of the planning permission relative to the redevelopment of the immediate locality and that an obligation to this effect will be placed upon the purchaser”.

There is a guide price of £40,000-£50,000.

Other “deals” take in a semi detached house with development potential in Webb Street, Bilston, which includes a quarter of an acre of land, guide £24,000-£29,000; a residential investment property in Stratford-upon-Avon producing £19,200 per annum, described as a great return given the guide of £142,000-£148,000; a semi detached property with development potential, 7 Over Brunton Close, on a corner plot in the Longbridge/Northfield area, guide £100,000-£150,000; plus a bungalow with huge development potential, 44 Greenway Drive, Sutton Coldfield, guide price £175,000-£185,000.

A portfolio of properties in Coventry, each with extremely low guides and all split into letting rooms, include 46 Kenilworth Road, £300,000-£350,000; 2 Fletchamstead Highway, £115,000-£135,000; 2a Fletchamstead Highway, £100,000-£125,000; 2 and 4 Wren Street, Hillfields, both £90,000-£95,000; 37 King Richard Street, Hillfields, £75,000-£80,000; 35 Mowbray Street, Stoke, £65,000-£70,000; and 80 Nicholls Street, Hillfields, £50,000-£55,000.

Best of the “out of town” opportunities are a former farm on Manor Road, Donnington Le Heath, Coalville. capable of being redeveloped as 15 properties, guide price £725,000; a substantial five bedroom property at 17 Tatling Grove, Milton Keynes, in a popular residential location, guide £295,000-£325,000; an eight bedroom detached in Nottingham, 1 Shotton Drive, currently occupied by a family of 16, guide £240,000-£250,000; and 122 Queens Walk, a former seven-bedroom guest house in Peterbrough which includes separate bungalow accommodation with a guide of £150,000.

Pot luck? A former snooker club at York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, has a guide of £230,000-£250,000.

The auction begins at 11 am.