Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Property Disposition topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Orange County approves sale of surplus condo at 276 Temple Hill Road, Unit 807
Summary
The county declared a two‑bedroom condominium at 276 Temple Hill Road, Unit 807 in Windsor surplus and authorized sale via MLS and broker rather than by auction, permitting sale to other than the highest bidder; motion carried by voice vote under discussion of prior life‑estate acquisition and carrying costs.
Orange County legislators on April 23 declared 276 Temple Hill Road, Unit 807 in Windsor surplus and authorized the county to solicit offers and sell the property by broker/MLS rather than through the auction process, allowing sale to a bidder other than the highest bidder. The motion was made under the agenda item presented by Paul Wiley, director of Real Property Tax Services, and carried by voice vote.
Wiley and Patricia Masterson, assistant director of property services (listed in meeting materials), told legislators the county acquired the condominium after a life estate ended when the resident died in April (the transcript states the county learned of the estate’s completion in September or October though the deed process began in February 2010). The unit is a two‑bedroom condo in the Continental Manor condominium project and has been vacant, accruing taxes and homeowners association fees of about $300 per month.
Wiley said Department of Social Services (DSS) incurred a $466,000 debt when the county acquired the property as part of earlier Medicaid‑related recoveries; this unit is the last of several acquired in the mid‑2000s to 2010 timeframe, he said. Because the unit requires renovation, staff said using it immediately as temporary housing for families would require additional work and possible homeowners‑association approval.
Legislators asked why the county would not sell to the highest bidder. Wiley explained that auction contractors typically charge about an 11% fee while a broker would cost roughly 3%, and auction sales often do not achieve market value; selling through MLS and a broker was presented as a way to reach market buyers and limit carrying costs. Wiley cited recent comparable sales: five sales within the Continental Manor project in the past 14 months with the lowest sale at $215,000; staff said they would list north of $200,000 and would consider offers at about $180,000 or higher, noting the property needs significant renovation.
Legislators discussed the possibility of using county‑owned acquired properties for temporary housing to offset hotel costs for families in need, and staff noted homeowners‑association rules and renovation costs as limiting factors. The motion to declare the unit surplus and authorize sale other than to the highest bidder was approved by voice vote with no recorded opposition in the transcript.
