Tax sale raises more than $200,000

Staff Reports

Potential buyers packed the county commissioners meeting room for the sale of three parcels at tax auction in Minden on Monday morning. The bidding started at 10 a.m. and within 15 minutes all three parcels were sold.

Smith Valley resident Shawna Smith was the high bidder on a .26-acre lot at 1229 Manhattan Way in the Gardnerville Ranchos.

Smith paid $83,000 for the parcel, which had a base bid of $5,024.07.

This was Smith's first purchase at a tax sale.

"I've purchased property at an estate sale, but never a tax sale."

She said the property was an investment and that she plans to re-sell it.

Gardnerville resident Jack Wyle was the top bidder on a 10-acre parcel at 2364 Vera Way, which went for $115,000. "I though that was going to go a lot higher," he said.

Reno attorney Thomas J. Hall paid $13,500 for an 11.5-acre parcel listed as unbuildable at Lake Tahoe.

A bit more than $15,000 in taxes is owed on the three combined properties. That amount will be paid to the county out of the proceeds of the sale.

The rest of the proceeds will be placed in trust for a period of time to be paid to the owners or heirs.