TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE
1. WITHDRAWAL: The right to withdraw or add any properties to this list is hereby reserved by the Lake County Land Commissioner.
2. BIDDING PROCESS
A. PROCESS: All listed improved and non-improved properties will be offered for sale to the highest bidder at online auction. Non-improved properties shall be offered at appraised value for a period of 30 days. Tracts must be sold at no lower than the appraised property value specified with the tract number listed for each auction, and bidding will begin at said appraised value for each tract. The county reserves the right to reject any or all bids and to reject any bidder who has defaulted on a land sale contract or is a prohibited bidder as defined on a land sale contract or is a prohibited bidder as defined below. Lake County may pursue all legal remedies allowed by law against any bidder who fails to make payment for a winning bid.
B. SALES: All sales are final, and no refunds or exchanges are permitted.
amount of the purchase
price.
D. PROHIBITED BUYERS OR BIDDERS: Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 282.016, the following persons or entities shall not be allowed to register or participate in the auction 1) a county auditor, county treasurer, county attorney, court administrator of the district court, county assessor, supervisor of assessments, deputy or clerk or an employee of such officer, a commissioner for tax forfeited lands or an assistant to such commissioner, either personally or as an agent or attorney for another person. 2) a person or entity that owns another property within Lake County for which there are delinquent taxes owing, 3) a person or entity that has held a rental license in Lake County and the license has been revoked within five years of the date of the auction, or 4) a person or entity that has been a vendee of a contract for purchase of a property offered for sale under Chapter 282, which contract has been canceled within 5 years of the date of the auction. A person prohibited from purchasing property must not directly, or indirectly, have another person purchase a property on behalf of the prohibited buyer for the prohibited buyer s benefit or gain. In the event a winning bid has been awarded to a prohibited bidder or buyer, the person or entity will forfeit their bid deposit, and the sale will be nullified as invalid. The property may be re-bid or re-offered at a future auction, at the sole discretion of Lake County.
E. BID DEPOSIT: A $500 electronic ACH (automated clearing house) bid deposit is required for all bidders through Public Surplus and will apply to all tracts within an auction. This deposit is non- refundable upon default of any winning bid.
F. PUBLIC SURPLUS: Requires a 5% Buyers Premium fee for transactional services charged to successful bidders.
G. FEES: The County Auditor shall charge and collect in full at the time of sale for the State of Minnesota an assurance fee of 3% of the total sale price of the land, timber and structures. Additional fees are required for closing such as recording fees, deed fees, and deed taxes, which will be due at the at the time of closing.
H. NOTICE OF AWARD: Successful bidders will receive a Notice of Award email from Lake County.
I. PAYMENT: For each property sold closing documents and an invoice will be provided by Lake County to the highest bidder. Payment must be made in full by certified funds within 15 days.
3. ASSESSMENTS: Properties offered for sale may be subject to unpaid assessments. Before purchasing, prospective buyers should consult the City/Town Clerk for all locations, in respect to any unpaid assessments that may exist and may be added back on after purchase. Any municipality or other public authority is authorized to make a reassessment or a new assessment to a property in an amount equal to the remaining unpaid original assessment at the time of forfeiture pursuant to Minnesota Statute 429.071, Subd. 4 and 435.23. Any assessments against the properties for public improvements that were levied after the properties forfeited to the State shall be assessed against the properties and paid for at the time of purchase, pursuant to Minnesota Statute 282.01, Subd. 3.
4. REAL ESTATE TAXES: Forfeited property that is repurchased, or sold at a public or private sale, on or before December 31 of an assessment year shall be placed on the assessment rolls for that year s assessment, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes 272.02, Subd. 38(c). If a purchase is made before December 31, taxes will be payable for the following year.
5. ZONING: Properties sold through this auction are subject to local zoning ordinances. Contact your local zoning administrator to obtain copies of these ordinances. No structure or part thereof shall be erected, constructed, moved or structurally altered, and no land shall change in use until the
local zoning authority has approved and issued a permit, if applicable. Lake County makes no warranty that the properties are buildable . It is the sole responsibility of the prospective buyers to be fully informed prior to purchasing, and the county encourages prospective buyers to contact the local land use and zoning authorities where the properties are located for information about building codes, zoning laws, or other information that affect the properties.
6. PROPERTY BOUNDARIES: Property boundaries shown on any web or paper maps provided by the county are for reference only and are subject to change. Prospective buyers should consult licensed surveyors to determine legal boundaries. Lake County is not responsible for locating or determining property lines or boundaries.
7. PROPERTY CONDITION:
A. SOLD AS IS : All land and improvements are sold as is and may not conform to local building and zoning ordinances. Lake County makes no warranties that the land is buildable , or as to the condition of any buildings, wells, septics, soils, roads or any other thing on the tract. All tracts are being sold with the understanding that the buyer and seller agree to waive disclosures required under Minnesota Statute 513.52 to 513.60, and 103.235 and any associated liabilities. No representation is made as to the condition of the structure, its fixtures or contents, or their suitability for any particular use. It is the sole responsibility of prospective buyers to be fully informed prior to purchasing. Buyers are encouraged to contact the local land use and zoning authority where the properties are located for information about building codes, zoning laws, or other municipal information that may affect a property. Buyers will be required to sign the Buyer s As Is Addendum as part of the Terms and Conditions of Sale, which will be available for review prior to the auction.
B. GUARANTEE WAIVER: Lake County makes no warranty, guaranty or representation of any kind, expressed or implied, as to the condition, usability, value, merchantability, authenticity, or fitness for any purpose of the property offered for sale. Buyer is not entitled to any payment of loss or profit or any other money damages, including but not limited to special, direct, indirect, or consequential damages.
C. NO DESCRIPTION WARRANTY: Lake County is not responsible for any omissions or errors in description of items being offered for sale. It shall be the bidder s responsibility to inspect and satisfy themself as to the details and conditions of the item offered before entering a bid. Lake County does not attest to the authenticity of any items.
D. TESTING: Buyers are able to obtain authorization from Lake County to perform soil testing, at their own expense, before purchasing a property. The sale will not be rescinded if soil problems of any type are discovered after the sale.
E. INSPECTION: Bidders may inspect the property prior to bidding. Please contact the Lake County Forestry/Land Department at 601 3rd Ave, Two Harbors, MN 55616; phone 218- 834-8340 or email Forestry@co.lake.mn.us to arrange to see the property for such an inspection.
F. LEAD: Some properties may present exposure to lead form lead-based paint that may place young children at risk of developing lead poisoning. If a bidder is interested in purchasing a single-family dwelling built prior to 1978, bidders have the right to conduct a risk assessment or inspection for lead-based paint hazards at the bidder s expense, at least ten (10) days before the sale date. Please contact the Lake County Forestry/Land Department at 601 3rd Avenue, Two Harbors, MN 55616; phone 218-834-8340 or email Forestry@co.lake.mn.us to arrange a time to conduct such assessment or inspection.
G. RADON WARNING STATEMENT: The Minnesota Department of Health strongly recommends that ALL homebuyers have an indoor radon test performed prior to purchasing or taking occupancy and recommends having the radon levels mitigated if elevated concentrations are found. Every buyer of an interest in residential real property is notified that the property may
present exposure to dangerous levels of indoor radon gas that may place the occupants at risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer. Radon, a Class A human carcinogen, is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and the second leading cause overall. The seller of any interest in residential real property is required to provide the buyer with any information on radon test results of the dwelling. Lake County has not performed and is not aware of any radon testing on properties offered for sale unless otherwise noted. The county will provide a copy of the Minnesota Department of Health s Radon in Real Estate Transactions publication to any buyer of residential tax-forfeited property.
H. TITLE: Neither Lake County nor the State of Minnesota warrants the condition of title. Buyers will receive documentation regarding purchase at the time of sale and/or the Commissioner of Revenue will issue a deed from the State of Minnesota after full payment is made. Tax forfeiture will create a break in the chain of title. SELLER CONVEYS NON-WARRANTIED TAX TITLE, and the services of an attorney at the buyer s expense may be necessary to make the title marketable.
I. HAZARD MATERIALS INDEMNIFICATION: The buyer shall indemnify Lake County and the State of Minnesota for hazardous environmental contamination arising or resulting from the buyer s use and occupancy of the purchased property.
J. HISTORY: Lake County makes no representations regarding the history or condition of the properties offered for sale. It is the buyer s sole responsibility to research the history and condition of any property that buyer wishes to purchase.
8. MORTGAGES AND OTHER LIENS: All sales are subject to existing leases, easements, deed restrictions, covenants, dedications, and rights-of-way holders. Regarding unsatisfied recorded mortgages and other liens, it is advised that all buyers consult a real estate attorney prior to purchasing tax-forfeited properties with unsatisfied mortgages and/or other liens held against them. Some mortgages and liens, other than Federal and State Liens, may be canceled at
forfeiture but may be re-instated after sale. It is solely the responsibility of each potential buyer to thoroughly research such information and to check with any mortgage or lien holders on the property.
9. WETLANDS AND FLOODPLAINS: Lake County has not performed any wetland delineation on properties offered for sale, unless otherwise noted. No refunds will be made due to the presence of wetlands, floodplains, or any other environmental condition that may be present. It is the buyer s sole responsibility to research, inspect, and review a property prior to purchasing.
10. RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS: Some non-platted properties listed for sale may contain non- forested marginal land or wetlands as defined in Minnesota Statutes. The deed for these properties will contain a restrictive covenant, which will prohibit enrollment of the properties in a state funded program providing compensation for conservation of marginal land or wetlands.
Notice of the existence of non-forested marginal lands or wetlands will be available to prospective buyers upon request.
11. MINERAL RIGHTS: All minerals and mineral rights are reserved by the State of Minnesota upon forfeiture and are retained by the State when a tax-forfeited property is conveyed.
12. LEGAL COUNSEL: In order to protect your legal interests, it is recommended that buyers consult with a real estate attorney regarding title issues, boundary issues, assessments, mortgages and other legal matters related to the property.
13. ACCESS: LAKE COUNTY MAKES NO REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES, OR GUARANTEES WITH RESPECT TO LEGAL ACCESS TO TAX-FORFEITED PROPERTIES
OFFERED FOR SALE. ALL PROPERTIES ARE SOLD AS IS, WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR REPRESENTATION OF ANY KIND.
14. DEFAULT: Default shall include 1) failure to observe these terms and conditions; or 2) failure to make good and timely payment; default may result in termination of the bid contract and suspension from participation in all future sales. If the buyer fails in the performance of their obligations, Lake County may exercise such rights and pursue such remedies as are provided by law.
15. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS AND CONDITIONS: By submitting a bid, a bidder agrees that the bidder has read, fully understood, and accepted these Terms and Conditions of online sales, and agrees to pay for, if the bid is accepted, by the dates and times specified. Lake County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment and the provision of services. Prospective bidders who require special accommodation to participate in this sale should contact the Lake County Forestry/Land Department at 218-834-8340 prior to the auction so arrangements can be made. The land sale list is also available on-line at https://www.co.lake.mn.us/forestry/land-sales.
16. UNSOLD TRACTS: Any tracts which are unsold by said bid deadline may be purchased at not less than the appraised value on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 9:00 AM, December 4, 2025 to first eligible purchaser providing a signed purchase agreement and full payment for the tract to the office of the County Auditor, until such time the County Board or Land Commissioner appears it to be in the public interest to withdraw from sale.