Teen buys 3 houses at tax sale
Staff writer
Three Peabody houses in the county tax sale Thursday were bought by a Cheney 18-year-old as his first foray into property ownership.
Aidyn Escalante, who graduated high school this year and plans to attend Wichita State University — though he might take a year off for the real estate adventure ahead of him — said he plans to rehabilitate all three houses, live in one, and likely sell the other two when they are ready.
Luckily for Aidyn, his father, Steve Bolin, lives in Peabody, has spent 16 years working in construction, and knows how to do the needed repairs.
Aidyn bought houses at:
606 N. Walnut, formerly owned by Terri Tucker and appraised at $3,750.
804 N. Elm, formerly owned by William Brew and Paulette Perrymore and appraised at $31,260.
402 N. Elm, formerly owned by Dillard Collins of Springfield, Missouri, and appraised at $9,600.
Bolin said he was certain all three houses would require intensive work.
Tables for bidders were filled with 132 people. Others stood along the east wall of Lake Hall. Staff members of Kelly Law Firm, the county clerk’s office, treasurer’s office, and sheriff’s office participated in signing in bidders, assigning bidder cards, and tracking winning bids.
Sheriff Jeff Soyez, despite his lack of training, served as auctioneer.
“I have never been an auctioneer, so if I screw up, just laugh at it and let’s go on,” Soyez told the crowd.
Sold were 30 houses and lots plus five sets of mineral rights.
Aidyn brought the auction to a close by bidding on the last mineral rights parcel.
Before bidding began, lawyer Keyta Kelly told bidders that after property is auctioned, there is no time for owners to redeem the property. Owners who did not know their property would be sold could get the property back.
It will take about four weeks for buyers to get deeds, because district court will need to confirm the sales before deeds will be issued.
“If you buy a house and there are people living in it, you are responsible for getting a lawyer and doing an eviction,” Kelly said.
Photos of the tracts sold showed houses ranging from completely derelict to apparent fair condition.