Real Estate Auction Roundup

By William Flood

 Illinois

Iroquois County - On May 9, Ag Exchange auctioned 120 +/- acres in Concord Township in six tracts. Tract 1, held 19 +/- acres, mainly all tillable except for the county roadside ditch, with a soil index of 99.5. It sold for $120,000 ($6,315.79/acre). Tract 2 was 12 +/- acres, consisting of woods, grass habitat, creek, and a 2 +/- acre shallow water wetland created by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, with the Habitat Retention Period ending July 2024. Another 0.5 +/- acres were enrolled in CRP until fall of 2025, paying $87 annually. That parcel sold for $60,000 ($5,000/acre). Tract 3 contained 26.75 +/- acres, mainly all tillable except for the county roadside ditch, with a Productivity Index of 90.71. Tract 4 was 4 +/- acres, with a well-maintained, 72-foot by 60-foot Morton pole barn built in 2018, a renovated, his/her bath house, and a 50-foot by 24-foot outbuilding used as a gathering hall. Electricity was onsite along with well water and septic. Tracts 3 and 4 sold combined for $330,000. Tract 5 contained 15 +/- acres, mainly all tillable except for the county roadside ditch, with a Productivity Index of 96. It sold for $130,000 ($8,666.67/acre). Tract 6 was 43.25 +/- acres, with 15.71 +/- acres in cropland and 14.31 tillable acres with a Productivity Index of 84.9. Another 24.72 +/- were wooded acres, and 1.4 acres were in a CRP paying $243.60 annually through the fall of 2025. and 1.5 +/- acres were a shallow water wetland area created by U.S. Fish & Wildlife, with a Habitat Retention Period ending January 2025. That tract sold for $190,000 ($4,393.06/acre).

Adams County - Merit Auctions held a zero buyer’s premium online auction on May 13. Offered were 127.89 surveyed acres in Concord Township presented as 3 tracts. Tract 1 contained 63.74 acres of tillable cropland, currently in row crop production. Soils were mainly Timewell and Virden, with a Productivity Index of 134.8. The tract had several years of manure management and cover crops, was improved with pattern drainage tile, and had road access on two sides. It sold for $1,228,800 ($19,200/acre). Tract 2 held 8.71 acres of tillable cropland, currently in hay production, with a small amount of recreational acreage. Soils were primarily Keomah and Rozetta, with a Productivity Index of 102.7. The balance of the tract was in a swine production facility and wooded draw, with two 700-head swine finishing buildings, four 12-ton bulk bins, and a lagoon manure-handling system. The facility was currently under a Maschhoff Farms contract with a potential extension. That parcel sold for $140,000. Tract 3 was 16.98 acres currently in row crop production. The balance of the tract was in woods and open meadows. Soils were Keomah and Hickory, with a Productivity Index of 88.6. The tract was improved with a small number of terraces that included drainage tile inlets. Road access was on two sides. The tract sold for $350,150 ($7,450/acre).

Indiana

Mauckport - On May 1, Beckort Auction held an unusual auction of the former Mauckport post office and two decommissioned 60-foot-tall internet towers. The real estate and towers were each sold separately. Lot 1 contained the 1960s-era 1,326-square-foot former post office situated on a 0.325-acre corner lot at Main and Walnut streets. It featured a forced-air LP gas furnace, electric and public water on-site, and blacktop and gravel parking areas. The property was zoned residential and could be converted to a 1-bedroom residence with a county variance. The property sold for $40,000. Lot 2 contained one decommissioned 60-foot tower, a small amount of chain-link fencing, and all items/equipment located inside the fence. It sold for $105. Lot 3 also contained a decommissioned 60-foot tower, chain link fence, and items contained within. It sold for $410. Indiana sales tax of 7 percent applied to Lots 2 & 3.

Oakland City - Farmers National Company held a live/simulcast auction of 63.33 acres on May 10. The property consisted of 57.49 acres of cropland, with a majority in Wakeland, Hosmer, Muren and Alford silt loams. Additionally, there were 2.74 acres of non-crop land and 3.1 acres in a CRP with an annual payment of $641 expiring September 2025. The parcel was located near numerous grain markets and close to I-69. Recent production figures were: 36 acres/112 bushels for corn; 12.8 acres/34 bushels for soybeans; and 8.6 acres/43 bushels for wheat. The farm was being planted to soybeans for the 2024 crop season under a custom farming agreement, with the buyer assuming 2024 planted crop income and expenses. Additionally, there were existing hunting and oil leases. The hunting lease expires September 2024. The oil lease was active; the owners received oil income totaling $2,243.07 from 2018-2024 although no payments were presently being received. The winning bid was $549,071, calculating to $8,670/acre.

Kentucky

Utica - Kurtz Auction & Realty held an absolute auction of 17.77 acres on May 7. The gently rolling wooded ground had 825 feet of frontage on Russell Road, had water and electricity on-site, featured a 1+/- acre pond, and offered multiple potential building sites. It sold for $177,000 or $9,961/acre.

Water Valley - On May 11, Harris Auctions offered absolute, a 3-bedroom fully furnished home on 126 acres as three tracts. Tract 1 contained 5.81 acres, the furnished 3-bedroom/2-bath house, and a fully stocked pond with a metal ramp and fishing dock. The building was vinyl-sided, equipped with a newer metal roof, central heat and A/C, and a gas backup system. There was a separate garage/workshop on slab, with a lean-to tractor cover on one side, one standard and two 10-foot doors, hot/cold water, and a separate 200-amp electric system with 220-volt and 120-volt outlets. Tract 2 held 52.49 acres; Tract 3 was 67.63 acres. 72.5 acres of the total acreage were enrolled in a CRP paying $6,184 annually. The entire property sold combined for $575,000.

Michigan

Manistee - Miedema’s LastBid Real Estate conducted a May 15 auction of 20 acres of wooded, vacant land, considered ideal for hunting/recreation or possibly for building a home or cottage. The mostly flat property offered some hardwoods and pine. It bordered the Manistee National Forest and was close to the Little Manistee River and Tippy Dam. The auction was subject to the secured creditor’s approval of the high bid. It sold for $10,000, equating to $500/acre.

Ohio

New Waterford - Kiko Auctioneers held a pair of absolute auctions on May 13 for two non-combinable parcels. The first contained 23+/- acres of mostly tillable cropland, with over 1,000 feet of road frontage. It sold for $179,400 or $7,800/acre. The second offered 4.5 +/- acres on the corner of Creek and Bull Creek roads. The parcel was wooded, with creek and unleased gas rights. It went for $20,250, equating to $4,500/acre.

Tuscarawas County - On May 21, Kaufman Realty & Auctions held an onsite auction of a beautiful mini-farm homestead on 12.9 acres in Bucks Township, offered as two tracts. Tract 1 contained 5 acres with a 40-foot by 288-foot chicken house renovated into a kennel, with concrete flooring, insulation, heat, and 16 large storage pens with cemented outdoor runs. The parcel had 576 feet of road frontage and held a potential building site. Tract 2 had 7.9 mostly fenced pasture acreage, with the 2-story home. The house featured 4 bedrooms/1 bath on the main level. A full walkout basement featured a second kitchen, dining/living combo room, and full bath. Utilities included free gas hot water/heat and private well/septic. Also on the parcel was a large, renovated bank barn with six box stalls, a 2,356-square-foot buggy shop, washroom, air and hydraulic lines, and dust-collection piping. The property sold combined for $685,000.