"Right now, the (auction) industry is about an $58-billion business, and it's growing at a rate of 20% a year," Good tells a Union League Club crowd this week. "Seven percent of all real estate is now being sold this way. We're at the front end of this high-growth business, and it's a business that's difficult to learn."

Nonetheless, Good has written a best-selling book, "Churches, Jails and Gold Mines," dealing with the auction business. And while talking with another auction company official, Good came up with the idea of lending money to owners of hard-to-move property ahead of the auction.

Good's $250-million debt fund already has placed $40 million, he reports, with another $100 million in loans in the pipeline. "The strength of the entire industry and interest in this aspect of it is mind-boggling to us," Good says.

Good adds the traditional brokerage community has welcomed the auction concept. He reports Trammell Crow Co. and The Staubach Co. will be cooperating with Good on the sale of eight factories and warehouses that will be up for auction later this year.

Good, whose auction company has sold such properties as Michael Jordan's River North restaurant, the Porter (IN) County Jail and five Art Deco hotels in the South Beach area of Miami Beach, wrapped up 2003 with a $20-million sale of 15 assets owned by Alcoa.

"Every time I wrap something in Alcoa aluminum, I feel real good about it," Good says.