STATE OF MINNESOTA TAX-FORFEITED PROPERTY, MANAGED BY STEARNS COUNTY

General Description

Vacant land. SE of MN HWY 15 & CO RD 136. Mostly covered by wetlands

Legal Description:  

All that part of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter and the Southwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter of Section 17, Township 123, Range 28, Stearns County, Minnesota, described as follows:  Beginning at the northwest corner of said Southwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, thence South 00 degrees 36 minutes 17 seconds East, assumed bearing, along the west line of said Southwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, 105.57 feet, thence South 86 degrees 13 minutes 14 seconds East, 389.55 feet, to a northwesterly right of way line of Garden Hills Drive, as dedicated in TERRACE HILLS, according to the recorded plat thereof, Stearns County, Minnesota; thence North 31 degrees 50 minutes 49 seconds East, along said northwesterly right of way line, a distance of 196.02 feet, to the southerly most corner of Block 3, TERRACE HILLS PLAT 2, Stearns County, Minnesota, according to the recorded plat thereof; thence North 47 degrees 43 minutes 27 seconds West, along the southerly line of said Block 3, a distance of 223.08 feet; thence North 69 degrees 16 minutes 20 seconds West, along said southerly line of Block 3, a distance of 236.89 feet; thence North 55 degrees 04 minutes 01 seconds West, along said southerly line of Block 3, a distance of 134.53 feet, to the west line of said Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, thence South 00 degrees 36 minutes 17 seconds East, along said west line of the Northwest Quarter of the Southeast Quarter, a distance of 346.23 feet, to the point of beginning.

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Parcel Number: 81.43153.0471

Special Assessments Before Forfeiture: NONE

Minnesota Statute 282.005 requires that all new forfeitures be offered at public auctions unless they are repurchased or withheld by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Properties are first offered at the Initial Price, which is the current Estimated Market Value (EMV) at the time of forfeiture.

Initial Price: $60,500.00

If property does not sell at the Initial Price, the price for the property will be adjusted to the Minimum Bid Price (delinquent balance plus forfeiture costs) and offered for auction again beginning December 30th.

Minimum Bid Price: $2,954.74

Obligation of Bidder

At the time of auction's closing, each bidder will be presumed to have read and to be thoroughly familiar with any and all plans, contract documents and documents attached to the auction listing, including but not limited to Stearns County Online Land Sales: Standard Disclaimer and Stearns County Terms and Conditions. The failure or omission of any bidder to examine any form, instrument or document shall in no way relieve any bidder from any obligation in respect to their bid. A winning bid by a qualified buyer constitutes a legally binding contract.

Payment Terms - Amount(s) Due Upon Sale

Full Payment:  Full Payment of the total sale value.

Buyer Premium: 5% of total sale price of land and structures. This percentage goes to Public Surplus as a Buyer’s Fee.

State Assurance Fee:  3% of total sale price of land and structures. This percentage is state mandated and goes into the State's General Fund to cover losses in the event that the state has to defend its right to forfeit land.

Recording Fee:  $46.00 or as set by the Stearns County Recorder.

Deed Fee:  $25.00

Deed Tax:  0.0033 times the purchase price or $1.65 minimum, whichever is greater.

Assessments:  Any lands offered for sale may be subject to unpaid assessments against the property. Before purchasing, any prospective buyer should consult the city or township clerk and county, in respect to any unpaid assessments that may exist. Any assessments against the property for public improvements after the property forfeited to the state shall be assessed against the property and paid for at the time of purchase, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, 282.01, Subd. 3. Any municipality or other public authority is authorized to make a reassessment or a new assessment to a parcel in an amount equal to the remaining unpaid original assessment at the time of forfeiture (Minnesota Stat. 429.071, Subd. 4 and 435.23).

Check with the city or township clerk and county for any additional assessments that existed prior to forfeiture, which may be re-assessed by the municipality.

Payment Requirements

DO NOT PAY FROM THE PUBLIC SURPLUS WINNING NOTIFICATION. STEARNS COUNTY AUDITOR-TREASURER WILL CALCULATE AND E-MAIL THE WILLING BIDDER A NOTICE OF AWARD INCLUDING THE FINAL AMOUNT DUE.

Payment must be made by Cash, Cashier's Check, or Money Order made payable to Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer.

When the auction closes, Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer will send the winning bidder an e-mail to begin processing the transaction. Your prompt response is appreciated to complete the transaction in a timely manner to avoid having your bid considered null and void.

The successful bidder will be required to remit payment in full to Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer within ten (10) days from the date of the Notice of Award. If payment is not received within ten (10) days, Stearns County reserves the right to sell the property to the next highest bidder or repost the auction.

Conflict of Interest

Stearns County officials and employees are prohibited from using privileged government data obtained through their position to further their own private interests.

As per Minnesota Statute 282.016, the direct or indirect purchase of tax forfeited land by individuals employed with the departments of the Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer,  Stearns County Court Administrator of the District Court, Stearns County Assessor, Stearns County Board of Commissioners, or the Stearns County Attorney is prohibited.