Wooded acreage, waterfront, spectacular views, a few homes and a couple of commercial properties--all will be on sale next Saturday, May 17.
That's the date of Schoharie County's property auction. It starts at 10am at the county office building in Schoharie.
These are more than 40 properties foreclosed for unpaid taxes and now owned by the county.
"These are surplus county property," said Treasurer Bill Cherry, who'll auction the parcels. "They're free and clear of all mortgages and liens."
Buyers also aren't liable for the past unpaid taxes, Mr. Cherry added.
He highlighted some of the top properties:
•Nearly 21 acres on Stone Store Road in Broome. "It borders state land. Hunters like that," Mr. Cherry said.
•A bundle of parcels to be sold together, almost 75 acres, off West Fulton Road in Fulton. Mr. Cherry calls this "own your own mountain" because the property covers the side of a hill. Panther Creek runs through the parcels.
•A modern home on nearly nine acres in Gilboa and a 15-acre parcel next to it, sold separately. "These have incredible, million-dollar views," Mr. Cherry said.
•A commercial building on Main Street, Schoharie, a former office for the Chamber of Commerce. It's at the intersection where the Stewart's Shop is.
?Another Schoharie commercial property on the north side of the village. It used to house a florist.
•Nearly 14 acres of partially wooded land in Seward. "It's a beautiful mix of wooded and open land," Mr. Cherry said. The property borders Otsego County.
•The former Dr. Oliver building on Main Street, Cobleskill. The property was sold at last year's auction, but the bidder never completed the purchase.
The unpaid taxes for the 45-plus properties total $377,506.
Mr. Cherry estimated that the sale could bring in $568,100.
"That's a realistic estimate," he said. "It means the county could get $190,593 above the unpaid taxes."
Helping Mr. Cherry put the auction together were Kathy Parker from his office and Margie Troidl, director of the county's Real Property Tax Services.
"This is a great partnership of our two offices," Mr. Cherry said.
A full-color catalog describing the properties is available at the Treasurer's Office in Schoharie.