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Twenty parcels slated for county tax lien auction

By Howard B. Owens

County Treasurer Scott German has released the list of properties in Genesee County slated to be auctioned off as a result of unpaid tax liens.

There are 20 parcels with a total assessed value of $579,500. The total unpaid taxes on the 20 parcels is $174,259.28.

The auction is set for 10 a.m., March 3, at Bontrager's Auction Center, Wotendyke Road, Batavia.

Location Accessed Value Taxes Notes 1281 Bloomingdale Road, Alabama $69,300.00 $6,222.13   3544 West Main Street Road, Batavia $38,000.00 $5,359.81   7645 Dublin Road, Bergen $17,200.00 $12,298.92   6865 McElver Street, Byron $67,600.00 $13,312.08   6896 Route 262 $12,500.00 $39,652.25 .78 acres of land with more than $22,000 in fire clean up costs 1322 McVean Road, Darien $83,900.00 $8,682.67   East Hundredmark Road, Elba $5,200.00 $752.85 9.3 acres of vacant land Batavia Oakfield Townline Road, Oakfield $5,600.00 $1,317.98 No house on the property Telephone Road, Pavilion $7,800.00 $1,169.86 8.3 acres, vacant land Telephone Road, Pavilion $1,000.00 $736.73 No house on the property Boyce Road, Pembroke $20,100.00 $3,316.99 50.2 acres, vacant land, two parcels Boyce Road, Pembroke $40,300.00 $4,532.38 88.9 acres, vacant land Angling Road, Pembroke $5,500.00 $988.47 10.9 acres, vacant land Anglng Road, Pembroke $8,500.00 $1,197.84 15.3 acres, vacant land Ellinwood Road, Pembroke $74,000.00 $20,964.30 63.6 acres, vacant land Horseshoe Lake Road, Stafford $100.00 $442.55 No house on property 27 Le Roy Street, Bergen $55,000.00 $7,932.49   West Main Street, Le Roy $10,000.00 $2,495.87 No house on property West Main Street, Le Roy $6,100.00 $1,454.60 No house on property 27 South Pearl Street, Oakfield $50,800.00 $5,660.89  

 

Jason Crater

Anyone care to explain how the auction process works? Where does the bidding start? Is the winning bidder expected to pay the full amount immediately (including taxes)?

Jan 23, 2012, 9:48am Permalink
Howard B. Owens

I'm not going to remember everything off the top of my head from the auction I attended year before last ... but

Typically, the auctioneer starts a price in the range of the value, and usually nobody bids that price, so he works down, until he gets a bid. Bidding continues until nobody wants to top the highest bid. That could be less than the assessed value, about the assessed value or more than the assessed value.

I've seen properties sell for less than the taxes owed on the property.

The buyer must pay X percentage of the final bid price and close with in X time period. The buyer pays X percentage (I think 8 percent, but don't remember for sure) of purchase price as the auction fee/real estate fee.

Jan 23, 2012, 10:22am Permalink
Jason Crater

Cool. Thanks for the heads up. I was confused, because I read on a different website that at these types of auctions you are bidding to pay the taxes owed, and then receive your money back plus an interest payment in the event the landowner pays the taxes. Then, if after a few years, the taxes are never paid by the landowner, you would be able to foreclose.

Your explanation sounds a lot better for my purposes!

Thanks again, Howard.

Jan 23, 2012, 11:02am Permalink
tim raines

It looks like your government isn't doing its job in collecting property taxes on a timely basis.

While the towns struggle for income, most of these properties haven't paid property/schools taxes in 6 yrs.

The properties should of been auctioned off years ago.

Your "public servants" at work.

Jan 23, 2012, 11:28am Permalink
C. M. Barons

Our local governments are less eager to toss families out of their homes or separate farmers from their acreage than banks (such as Bank of America) that conned Americans into unaffordable loan contracts. I believe it's known as compassion (distinguishable from compassionate conservative).

Yep! Pile on! Vote down compassion. We all know- compassion is limited to the jurisdiction of and to be exercised solely by churches!

Heaven forbid- some 'dabbler in real estate' might be deprived a new rental property!

Jan 23, 2012, 2:27pm Permalink
Scott German

I would like to clarify some of the comments that have been made.

To answer Mr. Crater's question: The county usually has an annual auction. This year it will be at 10:00 am on March 3 at Bontrager's Auction Center. Minimum bid on any property is $300.00 A non-refundable deposit of 20% of the final price is due on day of auction. The winning bidder does NOT have to pay any back taxes. The purchaser is expected to close within 30 days of the county legislature approving the sale.

To comment on Mr. Raines comments, the county does foreclose timely, the county begins the foreclosure process 33 months after the payment was originally due. A final date to redeem the taxes is within the 36th month of when the payment was due. Exceptions to this rule is bankruptcy, the county can not foreclose on anyone that is in bankruptcy. Once a prcel is discharged from bankruptcy, the county can begin to foreclose, this is how someone can be six or more years delinquent. Generally speaking the county forecloses within 3 years. Also mentioned was that towns struggle for income. The county foreclosure has no effect on towns. The county makes each town, village and school district whole each year, meaning there are no outstanding taxes due any town, village or school distrcit. The county pays each jurisdiction for any outstanding taxes.

I agree with Mr. Barons, the county is less eager to take properties away, I would much rather the tax be paid than for the county to foreclose.

I hope this helps understand more of how this process works.

Scott D. German, Genesee County Treasurer

Jan 23, 2012, 5:05pm Permalink
Kyle Couchman

OOOooooo LOL I'm liking this years County Legislators and staff, Between actually recognizing out complaints on GCEDC bonuses and this reply on the same day of the article, kinda gives me hope that our voices are heard a lil bit. :)

Jan 23, 2012, 5:52pm Permalink
terry paine

Every time a person has a need from government, someone else gets closer to losing their property.

serf \sər\ noun:A member of the lowest feudal class, attached to the land owned by a lord and required to perform labor in return for certain legal or customary rights.

vul·ture (vlchr):A person of a rapacious, predatory, or profiteering nature.

Jan 24, 2012, 8:22am Permalink
Scott German

Mr Meyer: The proceeds from the sale, are used to offset the outstanding tax amounts on the property foreclosed. If there is a profit, the county does record a revenue in the general fund. If there is a loss, the county records a loss in the general fund.

Jan 24, 2012, 9:15am Permalink
Eric [Rick] von kramer

Scott,, good job of answering questions. If you people want a little entertainment and learn something along the way attend an auction. The food is Good too!!!

Jan 24, 2012, 11:32am Permalink

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