Tax-Forfeited Properties
Stearns County Auditor/Treasurer
Randy R. Schreifels
(320) 656.3900
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View the inventory of
Tax Forfeited Properties available for purchase in Stearns County.
Basic Sale Price | Conditions | Payment Terms | Conditions After Purchase
The Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer's Office administers the disposition of tax-forfeited lands. These are properties that, after five years of non-payment of taxes (three years for business properties) default to Stearns County's ownership.
On the day of the auction, properties are sold to the highest bidder - "AS IS." The buyer should understand that the properties may not conform to local building and zoning ordinances, and that environmental and/or watershed/water conservation issues may affect the property. For further details view the "Full Report" for the particular parcel you are interested in.
Payment in full is required if the appraised value of the property is under $500.00.
Down payment of 20% at time of purchase and a balloon payment due within 90 days with floating interest rate on the balance.
Any parcels not sold at the public auction are added to the list of tax-forfeited parcels that can be purchased for the minimum bid. Take a look at the current list of Stearns County tax-forfeited parcels.
If you have any questions about the auction, you may call the Office of the County Auditor-Treasurer at 320.656.3904.
If your questions deal with environmental issues and the parcel is located in an un-incorporated area of the county, please call the Environmental Services Office at 320.656.3613. If you questions on environmental issues are on parcels located within a city, please contact the appropriate city.
Basic Sale Price
Classified and appraised lands are sold by auction each year. Unsold parcels can be purchased throughout the year by contacting the Auditor-Treasurer's Office. The price of the properties is the minimum bid of the parcel. The sale price is not negotiable. Prices cannot be changed unless a parcel is re-appraised, advertised and offered again at a public auction.
Listed under the appraised value are the special assessments, which is an abbreviation for Special Assessments Subject to Re-certification. The amounts listed after "Special Assessments" may be re-certified by the city or other taxing jurisdiction upon the sale of the property and will be the responsibility of the new owner. Improvements not yet assessed are the responsibility of the purchaser.
Conditions
All properties are sold "as is." All sales are final. The buyer should understand that the properties may not conform to local building and zoning ordinances and that environmental and/or watershed/water conservation issues may affect the property. Please contact the local jurisdiction as well as the Stearns County Environmental Services Office at 320.656.3613 with your environmental and zoning questions. We recommend that you thoroughly research any tax-forfeited parcel before purchase and consider contacting your attorney for specific legal questions.
Payment Terms
For terms, please contact the Stearns County Auditor-Treasurer's Office at 320.656.3904.
Additional Fees
State Assurance surcharge: 3% of the sale price
State Deed Fees: $25.00
State Deed Tax: .0033 times the total sale price, with a minimum of $1.65
Conservation Fee: $5.00
Recording Fee: $46.00 (subject to change, based on state legislature)
The purchaser will receive a Certificate of Sale at the time of purchase. The Commissioner of Revenue will issue a deed from the State of Minnesota after full payment is made. This conveyance shall have the force and effect of a patent from the State. However, services of an attorney may be necessary to make the title marketable.
Conditions After Purchase
No standing timber or timber products shall be removed from the land until an amount equal to the appraised value of all such timber or timber products as may have been standing on such lands at the time of purchase has been paid by the purchaser, provided:
any parcel of land bearing the aforementioned is sold for more than the appraised value, the amount bid in excess of the appraised value shall be allocated between the land and the timber in proportion to the respective appraised value thereof. The amount of such excess bid allocated to timber or timber products shall have been paid in addition to the appraised value.
All mineral rights are reserved to the State of Minnesota.
Failure of purchaser to pay any of the deferred installments with interest, and the current taxes, or to comply with any conditions stipulated in the notice of sale or in the Auditor's Certificate, shall constitute default; and the State may, by order of the County Board during the continuance of such default, with notice, declare such certificate canceled and take possession of such lands and may resell or lease the lands in the same manner and under the same rules as other lands forfeited to the State for taxes are sold or leased.