At the current time there are no
tax forfeited lands available
for sale. Please check website
for future information.
Frequently Asked
Questions
about the
Tax-Forfeited Landsale
Auctions
(Updated September 11, 2007)
The Carlton County Land
Department manages about 72,106
acres of tax-forfeited land in
Carlton County. The statute
regulating sales of
tax-forfeited land is Minnesota
Statute 282
and is available at
www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us
1. How may I obtain a copy of
the upcoming landsale list?
Upon approval by the Carlton
County Board of Commissioners,
the landsale list is available
from the Carton County Auditor's
Office and the Land Department.
It is typically available by
late April of each year.
Approximately one month before
the sale
the landsale list may be viewed
on the county's website
www.co.carlton.mn.us
2. When and where is your
landsale advertised?
The landsale is advertised in
the official county newspaper,
which is determined in January
of each year. The sale is
published twice and the second
publication is at least ten days
before the sale. The sale list
may also be viewed in the
Carlton County Auditor's Office
and the Land Department. Shortly
after the County Board has
approved the landsale list, it
may be viewed on the county's
website at www.co.carlton.mn.us
3. What is the date, time and
location of your tax-forfeited landsale auction?
Carlton County has one
tax-forfeited auction landsale
in July or August of each year.
The sale is conducted in the
first floor Boardroom of the
Carlton County Courthouse in
Carlton, Minnesota. The date,
time and location of the next
sale is available from the
Carlton County Auditor's Office
at 218.384.9127 or, shortly
after the County Board has
approved the landsale list, on
the county's website at
www.co.carlton.mn.us
4. Who conducts the landsale?
The Carlton County Auditor's
Office conducts the landsale.
5. How and when do I register
for your landsale?
No registration is required to
bid on parcels at the auction.
6. How is the sale conducted?
The landsale is a public, oral
auction, and the parcels are
offered for sale in the order
shown on the landsale list. The
opening bid is the appraised,
fair market value of the
parcel shown on the landsale
list. No parcel will be sold for
less than the appraised value.
7. What happens to the
property which does not sell at
the auction?
Property which does not sell at
the landsale may be purchased at
not less than the appraised
value directly from the
Auditor's Office until the time
that the property is either sold
or the County Board removes the
landsale parcel from
availability. You may contact
the Auditor's Office or the Land
Department regarding property
which did not sell at the
landsale. The Auditor's office
is open Monday through Friday,
8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. by telephone
(218.384.9127) or by mail
(Carlton County Auditor, PO Box
130, Carlton, MN 55718). The
Land Department is open Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. by telephone
(218.384.9179) or by mail
(Carlton County Land Department,
1630 County Road 61, Suite 132,
Carlton, MN 55718).
8. May another person bid on
behalf of the buyer at the landsale?
A person bidding on behalf of a
buyer must have Power of
Attorney documents with them at
the landsale in order to bid and
buy property that will be placed
on a contract. No Power of
Attorney documents are required
to purchase property on behalf
of a buyer if the property will
be paid in full at the time of
the sale.
9. May a written bid be
submitted before the sale to
purchase property at the landsale?
A written bid containing the
description of the property, the
amount of the bid, a personal
check for the amount of the bid,
and the name and address of the
bidder, may be submitted to the
Auditor before the sale. This
bid will be held by the Auditor
and will be opened after the
sale if the parcel was not sold
during the landsale.
If the property is not sold at
the landsale, the bidder will be
notified by mail that the
closing costs and buyer
information must be received by
the Auditor's Office within five
days of the landsale or the
"pending sale" status of the
parcel will be removed and the
bidder's bid check will be
returned to the bidder.
10. What are the payment
requirements at the landsale?
If the total final purchase
price of a landsale parcel is
$500 or less, the total purchase
price and closing costs shall be
paid in full by cash or by
personal check at the end of the
landsale. Closing costs include
the preparation and recording of
the State Deed, the State Deed
Tax, the recording of the Well
Certificate (if there is a well)
and the Assurance charge of
three percent on the total final
purchase price.
If the total final purchase
price of a landsale parcel is
more than $500, the parcel may
be purchased on a four-year
Auditor's Certificate of
Purchase of Tax-Forfeited Lands,
which is similar to a contract
for deed. The following down
payment and costs to purchase on
a contract for deed must be paid
at the end of the sale:
• At least ten percent of the
total final purchase price or $500 per landsale parcel, whichever is greater
• All of the prorated timber
appraised value
• Prorated appraised building
value up to $1,000.00 • Cost for recording the
Auditor's Certificate of Purchase • Cost for recording the Well
Certificate (if there is a well) • Assurance charge of three
percent on the total final purchase price • The balance of the total
final purchase price is to be paid in four annual installments with interest computed at a variable rate on the unpaid balance.
11. What type of document is
issued for the purchase of
tax-forfeited property?
At the time of payment in full,
a State Deed is issued by the
Minnesota Department of Revenue.
12. Once property is acquired
through the landsale,
is there
a redemption period before the
buyer may take
possession?
There is no redemption period
once the property is purchased
in full or the purchaser has
made the initial payment on the
contract.
13. When do real estate taxes
become due on property purchased
through a tax-forfeited landsale?
Real estate taxes will be due
and payable in the year after
the initial purchase. For
example, if a parcel is
purchased either by contract or
payment in full at the 2007
landsale, taxes will be due and
payable in 2008.
14. Is there an abstract for
the property?
The county has no abstract for
tax-forfeited property.
15. How long is property
forfeited before it becomes
eligible for a tax-forfeited landsale?
A tax-forfeited parcel, which is
eligible to be placed on a
landsale, usually is not offered
for sale until at least one year
after its forfeiture.
16. How may I obtain more
information about tax-forfeited property in Carlton County?
The Auditor's Office or the Land
Department may be contacted to
determine whether or not a
tax-forfeited parcel is eligible
to be placed on a landsale. The
Auditor's Office is open Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. by telephone
(218.384.9127) or by mail
(Carlton County
Auditor/Treasurer, PO Box 130,
Carlton, MN 55718). The Land
Department is open Monday
through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to
4:00 p.m. by telephone
(218.384.9179) or by mail
(Carlton County Land Department,
1630 County Road 61, Suite 132,
Carlton, MN 55718).
17. How do I request that a
tax-forfeited parcel be placed
on a landsale?
Contact the Auditor's Office
with your tax-forfeited parcel
information. The office is open
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m. by telephone
(218.384.9127) or
by mail (Carlton County Auditor,
PO Box 130, Carlton, MN 55718).
18. May tax-forfeited
property be purchased through a
State Assignment Certificate or
a Tax Lien Certificate or
a Tax
Deed?
No. Those means of acquiring
tax-forfeited property no longer
exist.
Terms of Sale
IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that all
the above and within described nonconservation lands may be
sold on terms as follows:
All final bids will be
prorated among land, timber,
building, and (road easement)
appraised values.
If the total final purchase
price is $500.00 or less per landsale parcel, the total
purchase price shall be paid in
full at the time of purchase.
For all landsale parcels paid in
full at the time of purchase,
the following closing costs must
be paid in full in addition to
the total final purchase cost:
The cost for preparing and
recording the State Deed
State Deed Tax
If a Well Certificate is
required, the recording fee for
the Certificate
Assurance charge of three (3)
percent on the total final
purchase price
If the total final purchase
price is more than $500 per landsale parcel, the parcel may
be purchased on a contract for
deed. The following down payment
and closing costs must be paid
in full at the time of purchase:
At least ten (10) percent of the
total final purchase price or
$500.00 per landsale parcel,
whichever is greater
All of the prorated timber
appraised value
All of the prorated building
appraised value
The balance of the total final
purchase price is to be paid in
four (4) annual installments
with interest computed at a
variable rate on the unpaid
balance
The cost for recording the
Contract for Deed
If a Well Certificate is
required, the recording fee for
the Certificate
Assurance charge of three (3)
percent on the total final
purchase price
All mineral rights are
reserved to the State.
The appraised value does not
represent a basis for future
taxes.
For land located in all
cities and in Thomson Township,
contact the city or township for
details of building codes or
zoning laws; for land located in
all other townships, contact the
Carlton County Zoning Office.
ALL PROPERTY IS SOLD "AS IS" AND
MAY NOT CONFORM TO LOCAL
BUILDING AND ZONING ORDINANCES.
THE COUNTY MAKES NO WARRANTY
THAT THE LAND IS "BUILDABLE" OR
THAT ACCESS IS AVAILABLE.
All sales are final and no
refunds or exchanges are
permitted.
Carlton County is not
responsible for location or
determination of property lines
or boundaries.
Some parcels offered for sale
may not be eligible for
enrollment in a State of
Minnesota funded program
providing compensation for
conservation for marginal land
or wetlands.
All lands sold are sold
subject to Zoning Ordinances
adopted by the County Board, and
all lands are sold subject to
railroad, highway, power and
pipeline easements.
Buyers are advised that
property purchased at a
tax-forfeited landsale may not
be free and clear of
mortgage-like liens and
encumbrances.
The County reserves the
right to withdraw any parcel
listed for sale.
