ADAMS, Mass. — The town sold all 12 properties up for auction on Thursday and regained $82,000 in outstanding bills.

 

"I got rid of them all so I am happy," Treasurer/Tax Collector Kelly Rice said. "We had 12 and they all went, which means we don't have to bring them back and they can go back on the tax roll."

 

Auctioneers Sullivan & Sullivan ran the public auction at the Adams Visitors Center. The properties were taken for back taxes and auctioned to recoup some of those losses. 

 

The highest seller was a Center Street rowhouse (69-75 Center St.) that was sold for $25,000. The property, which was assessed for $105,300, had only one bidder who raised his bid to meet the minimal amount the town would take.

 

One of the few bidding battles was over 10-12 Richmond St., which sold for $23,500. The 2,840 square-foot two-family home was assessed at $119,500 with bidding starting at $16,000.

 

The town sold 87 Orchard St. for $16,000. The 1,882 square-foot home, assessed at $136,800, had to be revisited because bidders were unable to meet a minimum price.  

 

A lot of the smaller homes took some coaxing but hesitant bidders raised their cards and purchased them for well below their assessed values. 

 

A house at 2 Valley St. sold for $6,500. The 1,310 square-foot home was assessed at $88,100.

 

A two-family at 23-25 Albert St. assessed at $44,600 sold for $3,000.  

 

A building at 35 Richmond Lane sold for even less at $2,500. The 1,576 square-foot home was assessed at $67,500.

 

A 1,664 square-feet house at 18 Victory St., which was assessed at $73,100, also sold for $2,500.

 

Another house at 7 Grove St., which was assessed at $70,800, sold for only $1,000.  

 

Two buildable plots of land were also sold and both 20-22 Melrose St. and a Bucklin Road lot sold for $1,000 apiece.

 

All buyers had to place a $5,000 deposit on houses and $500 on vacant lots.