SUNBURY - Approximately $157,000 was generated through the sale of 33 properties at a county judicial sale Tuesday.
Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau Director Jan Nestico reported a total of 98 properties had been available for sale. She said the remaining 65 properties will go to a repository sale, which requires a minimum bid of $500 for regular houses and $300 for mobile homes.
Nestico said, "We were hoping to sell at least half of the properties, but the 33 we sold generated $157,598.07. The sale went smoothly. I was happy with the money we got for the properties."
She said more than 100 people attended the sale in the public meeting room at the county administration center. She said only two of the 53 bidders who pre-registered didn't attend.
Nestico said a property in Riverside sold for $36,000, which was the highest amount received at the sale.
Eight properties in Mount Carmel sold for a total of $21,653.71. Seven Shamokin properties sold for a total of $11,329.05 and three properties in Sunbury sold for $29,700.
Three properties in Coal Township sold for $4,762.02. Two properties in Kulpmont generated $4,600 and one property in Marion Heights sold for $9,500.
One property in Zerbe Township generated $2,100 and one property in Mount Carmel Township sold for $2,700.
Two properties were sold in Watsontown for $17,500. One property each was sold in Lower Mahanoy Township ($1,819.32), Milton ($933.97), Point Township ($6,500) and West Chillisquaque Township ($8,500).
Next sale November
Northumberand County Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy served as auctioneers. Nestico, chief clerk Gary Steffen, tax claims bureau solicitor Vincent Rovito and staff from the tax claims office assisted at the sale.
Nestico said the next judicial sale will be held in November.
The tax claims director said the 65 properties that will be added to the repository sale list should be available at the county website at northumberlandco.org and at her office within the next week. She said the properties sold at Wednesday's sale are posted online.
Anyone with questions regarding the sale can contact the tax claims office at 988-4116.
Prior to 2009, no judicial sales had been conducted in the county since 2001.
In 2009, Nestico said 165 properties were sold among the 230 available for sale, generating $492,231. In 2010, 55 properties were sold among 89 available for sale, generating $186,500. Last year, 47 properties were sold among 85 available for sale, generating $150,392.