Aug. 16 property auction largest in county's history

Coming on the heels of one of the worst economic periods in American history, Oakland County will be holding what Treasurer Andy Meisner says is the largest land sale that he can recall in the county’s history, on Tuesday, Aug. 16.

Under state law, the county Treasurer’s Office is required to hold two annual auctions of tax-foreclosed properties that are in their third year of delinquency.

Meisner said about 1,200 properties will be up for grabs at the auction, beginning at 9 a.m. on Aug. 16.

“We were at about 1,900, and we’ve got a number of parcels where the folks paid (their property tax obligation),” he said. “In a number of cases, we allowed the property owner to redeem the property. There are some properties where there might have been an issue with service of process.”

He added that the properties up for auction are scattered throughout the county — including a “beautiful house in White Lake Township” and properties in Commerce and West Bloomfield townships — but many are also in tax foreclosure “hot spots” like Pontiac, Oak Park, Hazel Park, and Southfield.

“It’s striking at how spread out these properties really are,” he said.

Meisner also said the county is partnering for the first time with the North Oakland County Board of REALTORS to “sell as many of these properties as possible to homeowners who will live in the properties.”

“Who better has their finger on the pulse than REALTORS,” he said. “We have entered into a partnership where I am going to use the professional expertise of the REALTORS to help get as many of these homes as possible into the hands of families who will be part of the community and send their kids to local schools.”

Only registered participants can bid on the properties, and registration began yesterday, Tuesday, Aug. 9. Interested individuals can register the same day as the auction.

Properties are sold “as is” and all transactions are same-day cash transactions; valid identification is also required. Properties not sold at the auction will be offered up again at a second auction held in October.

For more information on the auction, call 248-858-0612 or visit oakgov.com/treasurer.