REGIONAL- In the latest St. Louis County online forfeited property auction that wrapped up on June 10, water-only access was apparently either a boom or bust to prospective buyers of North Country properties.
Buyers weren’t deterred by having to take a boat to Pine Island in Lake Vermilion, as four of five residential-zoned properties there sold. Conversely, six properties on Ban Lake in Beatty Township with lake frontage but water-only access failed to attract any minimum bids.
Among the Pine Island properties, a 74-acre parcel east of undeveloped but platted Canfield Road in Breitung Township generated the most heated bidding, with William Kaper Jr.’s winning offer of $61,105 coming in at well more than twice the $24,000 assessed value. The auction listing said the parcel contains some wetlands but adjoins an undeveloped platted road that leads to the lake.
Two other inland parcels on Pine Island, also in Breitung Township, were sold for the listed appraised value, including a .77-acre tract to Steve Sauerbry for $17,850 and a 1.14-acre parcel to Gregg Rosenberger for $13,275. Both adjoin undeveloped platted roads.
A .48-acre Canfield Bay tract consisting of three lots with about 150 feet of total lake frontage was purchased by Alvin and Florette Hujanen for the appraised price of $55,400. The tract is adjacent to 5762 Canfield Bay, also owned by the Hujanens, according to county tax records.
Away from the lakes, it was a 25-acre tract with a dilapidated barn on Forest Road 257 that drew the attention of bidders. The property, east of and adjacent to 8071 Hwy. 53 in the unorganized township south of Angora, was appraised at $20,400. It ultimately sold for $55,200 to Jason Hancock, who also owns the 8071 Hwy. 53 property. The property is zoned Forest Agricultural Management.
Additional area sales included:
 A 10-acre tract south of Hwy. 22 on Sand Creek in Morcom Township sold to Bruce M. Sandberg for $7,000, $800 more than the appraised value. The tract is zoned for Forest Agricultural Management.
 A 40-acre parcel in Vermilion Lake Township north of Wahlsten Road with about 1,300 feet of frontage on the Pike River sold to Dale Niemi for $21,800, also $800 more than the appraised value. The parcel is zoned for multiple use.
County Director of Land and Minerals Julie Marinucci said that 15 of the 29 properties sold in the online auction had competing bids. The auction results in $903,575 in sales.
About 140 properties are available for sale on a first-come, first-served basis, including properties not purchased during the auction, Marinucci said. The list of those properties, along with results from the June 10 auction, can be found online at stlouiscountymn.gov/landsales.