"All in all, in the economy we're in, I think we did OK," Treasurer-Collector Leigh Deveneau-Martinelli said.
Paul T. Zekos, president of The Zekos Group, standing, discusses the properties available through the town of Ware's auction of town-owned property at Ware Town Hall on Thursday.WARE - The public auction of town-owned property netted approximately $100,000 for the town last week.
"All in all, in the economy we're in, I think we did OK," Treasurer-Collector Leigh Deveneau-Martinelli said.
Of the seven properties for sale, only four sold. The auction was conducted by The Zekos Group of Shrewbury.
Paul T. Zekos, president of The Zekos Group, used humor to liven up the auction as he encouraged the 20 people in attendance to bid. At one point, he jumped on a chair, slapped his papers down, and told a bidder, "Stop holding onto your money!"
That happened during the most spirited bidding for 9 Cottage St., a Victorian-style, two-family residence on less than a quarter of an acre that sold for $26,000 to Kenneth E. Abro, of Northborough. Abro beat out two other people who were involved in the bidding.
"It looks like a nice, old property. It seemed like a good investment," said Abro, who added he plans to rent it out after he fixes it up.
Zekos started bidding on that home at $40,000, when no one responded, he asked the crowd, "What's your pleasure?"
"Five thousand," a man replied.
"That's not very pleasurable," Zekos said.
A 1,600-square-foot single-family home at 33 Vigeant St. sold for $3,000 to Jeffrey M. Parent, who said he plans to tear down the 1,600-square-foot home and turn it into a parking lot for his apartment complex at 28-36 Vigeant St. Parent was the lone bidder on the property.
Kevin Davis, of Palmer, was the only bidder on seven contiguous parcels on Coffey Hill Road, buying it for the starting bid of $50,000. Davis and his partner are in the process of forming a limited liability company, and want to develop the property, which is approximately 10 acres. He said they don't know exactly what they will put there yet.
Three parcels on nearly 3 acres on Old Belchertown Road sold for $11,000 to Sergio A. Dias, of Ludlow, who said he plans to build on the lot, possibly a house.
Properties on Monson Turnpike Road (34,176-square-feet), 108 Gilbertville Road (6,969-square-feet) and West Warren Road (1.65 acres) were passed over because no one bid on them.
At the beginning of the auction, Zekos explained that all the properties were taken over by the town for nonpayment of taxes, and are being sold as is, and the intent is to return them to the tax rolls. He explained that a 10 percent buyer's premium also would be charged on all the properties, plus a $250 legal services fee.
Deveneau-Martinelli said hopefully another auction will be held in the spring. The proceeds from the auction will go into the town's general fund, she said.