Bidders will have the chance to buy waterfront properties, forested acreage and other parcels around the state during a series of Michigan Department of Natural Resources online auctions.
The state will sell 97 properties during the auctions, which take place from Aug. 4-28.
Where are the properties located?
The properties up for bid can been found in 28 counties ranging from Metro Detroit to the Upper Peninsula. Multiple sites are available in Allegan, Baraga, Delta, Jackson, Kalkaska and Livingston counties.
The parcels vary in size from under an acre to 120 acres. Twenty of the properties are at least 40 acres, with those larger sites mostly situated in the U.P. or the northern Lower Peninsula, the DNR said.
Notable waterfront locations include spots on Lake Nepessing in Lapeer County and Little Pleasant Lake in Jackson County, as well as Walled Lake and Buckhorn Lake, both in Oakland County. Parcels near Lake Michigan are for sale in Charlevoix and Delta counties.
A detailed list of properties, including minimum bid, acreage maps and location information, is available at Michigan.gov/LandForSale.
Why are they for sale?
Officials acknowledged that it may seem counterintuitive for the DNR, which is dedicated to conserving Michigan’s natural resources, to sell its land to private individuals or organizations.
However, the public benefit of some of the properties is severely limited, said Kerry Heckman, DNR forest lands and special projects administrator, in a press release. Factors at play include lack of legal public access, size limitations that prevent appropriate public use and development on adjacent privately owned land that restricts public uses.
Officials said many of the properties are isolated from other DNR public lands, making them difficult to manage.
Proceeds from the sales go into the DNR’s Land Exchange Facilitation Fund, which the agency uses to buy other property that can be better put to public use, officials said.
“Those dollars are specifically used to acquire other properties that are more usable by residents and visitors, protect important natural resources and provide accessible, quality recreation opportunities throughout the state,” Heckman said in the release.
How and when to bid
The properties are being sold through 12 separate online auctions held from Aug. 4-28.
Bidders must register prior to the auction date and can place absentee bids up to 30 days before the auction opens.
Starting at 10 a.m. on the auction date, bidders will be able to see current high bids for each property. Bids can be placed until 7 p.m., when the auction closes and the winner is determined.
To preregister as a bidder or for information about the schedule, visit https://www.tax-sale.info/.
mreinhart@detroitnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Michigan DNR selling 97 properties including large tracts, waterfronts
Reporting by Max Reinhart, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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By Max Reinhart, The Detroit News | USA TODAY Network
