Anyone looking for a good deal may find it at Schoharie County's property auction Saturday.
Forty county-owned properties, taken for back taxes, will be on the block when the auction starts at the county office building at 10am.
"There's a mix of vacant land, residential and commercial properties," said county Treasurer Bill Cherry, who runs the auction.
He highlighted some that may generate interest:
•A one-family home on six acres on Heights Road in Conesville. "It has beautiful views of the Catskills," Mr. Cherry said. "Somebody's going to pick up a real bargain."
•Forty acres and a farmhouse on Bear Ladder Road in Fulton. "It's a nice farmhouse that looks like it's in good condition," said Mr. Cherry.
•Six acres on Wild Berry Drive in Gilboa. "It's beautiful pasture land with lovely mountain views," Mr. Cherry said.
•A three-story commercial building at the corner of Main and River streets in Middleburgh. "It has commercial tenants and could be a good investment," Mr. Cherry said.
There are others, including commercial buildings in Richmondville and Summit, a multi-family home in Cobleskill, and homes and vacant lands in many towns.
Mr. Cherry and Kathy Parker from the Treasurer's Office and Margie Troidl and Susan Makely from Real Property Services reviewed the properties and estimated that the 40 parcels will bring in $577,000.
That's about $140,000 more than the total taxes owed on the properties, $439,456.
Successful bidders aren't responsible for those back taxes, however. The properties come free and clear of delinquent taxes, mortgages and liens.
Also, there are no minimum bids, Mr. Cherry said.
This year's auction has fewer properties than in past years. Mr. Cherry believes the decrease is because his office allows property owners to pay taxes by the month, rather than in one payment, to make the responsibility more affordable.
"Frankly, I'm glad there's a relatively low number of properties," Mr. Cherry said.
Also, compared to recent years, there aren't flood-damaged homes abandoned by owners after Hurricane Irene.
"People are still restoring houses and paying their taxes," Mr. Cherry said. "But it's going to take time."
Potential bidders must register before the auction and also must present a $500 bank check, certified check or money order payable to the Schoharie County Treasurer.
If the bidder doesn't buy a property, he will get the check back.
Bidders should call the Treasurer's office at 295-8386 a day or two before the auction to make sure the parcels they're interested in will still be sold. Legal action or other complications may pull a parcel from the sale.