PLATTSBURG — For the first time since 2019, Clinton County will host a real estate foreclosure auction. The event will take place on Wednesday, June 15th at 10am in the West Side Ballroom.
Of the 79 properties heading for auction, 43 are residential, 32 are vacant and 4 are commercial, county treasurer Kimberly Davis said.
“We actually expected more than this because the average year is around 35-50 (property) and the fact that we haven’t owned one in three years – the numbers are It’s not a good number — but it’s lower than we expected, and we’re happy,” Davis said.
COVID moratorium
The county has not held an auction since 2019 because of the “COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Act of 2020,” which was signed into law in December 2020, according to the New York State Department of Financial Services website.
The law placed a “moratorium” on evictions and seizures until May 1, 2021, but that date was later extended to January 15, 2022.
The foreclosure process usually begins when a property owner has not paid taxes for two years. Starting in 2018, some properties listed for auction are subject to tax liability.
“When it comes to foreclosures, the process is always the same: legal notices, newspaper notices, yellow signs in the yard, we do everything we can to make sure people are aware of their situation,” Davis said. rice field.
“Sometimes we get comments like, ‘We’re trying to annoy people.’ We’re not trying to annoy anyone. This is a very serious consequence of losing property. We want to make sure everyone is aware that they are.”
Notice to Owner
Property owners are typically notified at least 17 times about the taxes levied on their property, Davis said.
“On the other hand, even if for some reason they don’t read the mail, someone sees their name in the newspaper, someone says it to them, or they see a yellow sign in the garden and thank us every year.” I have someone to help me,” she said.
“Seizing someone’s property is serious and it’s the worst part of my job. I want to have as little foreclosure as possible.”
unpaid taxes
The tax due for this year is $562,414.35.
Davis said the county is budgeting $360,000 in proceeds from tax sales.
Those who want to participate in the auction should “do their homework,” she said.
“I don’t want anyone watching a show on TV. It’s a flip or a flop. They think they can come in and flip the property without any diligence,” Davis said.
“For example, is it a buildable plot? Is it a wetland? We don’t get the information, so the information we provide is not guaranteed. and (and) make sure they understand how bidding works.”
auction webinar
Davis also said bidders must have funds secured at the auction.
To learn more about the auction process, please watch the webinar on the auction site http://nysauctions.com/.
A seminar will also be held on the same website on Monday, June 13th at 7pm.
“People who have never bid on an auction before should attend or watch a webinar on the website.”
Davis said potential bidders could also call the accounting firm with questions.
Email Carly Newton:
Twitter: @CarlySNewton