Someone bought a private road for $994 in San Francisco
63 Replies
Ryan Lee
Investor from Bowie, Maryland
posted over 3 years ago
Look at what can happen to a gated community that don't pay there taxes.
http://www.npr.org/2017/08/07/542076983/wealthy-san-francisco-neighborhood-fails-to-pay-taxes-loses-private-street?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=npr&utm_term=nprnews&utm_content=20170807
Matt K.
from Walnut Creek, California
replied over 3 years ago
it was about 90k not 900.... and they are likely going to get outspent in court.
I'm not sure if you could, but they should of NNN leased it back to the HOA... instead they are trying to tell super wealthy and elite families they are going to have to pay for parking haha.
Ryan Lee
Investor from Bowie, Maryland
replied over 3 years ago
Originally posted by @Matt K. :
it was about 90k not 900.... and they are likely going to get outspent in court.
I'm not sure if you could, but they should of NNN leased it back to the HOA... instead they are trying to tell super wealthy and elite families they are going to have to pay for parking haha.
thanks for the correction. I love that they kinda sticking it to the wealthy a little.
Jason Hirko
Developer from San Antonio, TX
replied over 3 years ago
Originally posted by @Ryan Lee :
Originally posted by @Matt Katsaris:it was about 90k not 900.... and they are likely going to get outspent in court.
thanks for the correction. I love that they kinda sticking it to the wealthy a little.
You are right though the past due taxes were only about $900... it just got bid up to over $90,000 at the tax foreclosure sale. Apparently 30 years of backed taxes at $14 a pop, plus interest! The devil is in the details...
Matt K.
from Walnut Creek, California
replied over 3 years ago
I'm curious how this turns out... I see an army of lawyers dragging this out in court and the street owners running out of money first.
Jay J.
from ., Ohio
replied over 3 years ago
I don't get it.. what's the point??
I mean, its not like the 'road owner' now owns the homes or anything.. (seriously, they just bought a bill bill, didn't they??) what are they going to do, make it a toll road??!! lol
Justin Fox
Software Developer from Vidor, TX
replied over 3 years ago
The HOA committee is made up of those elite, wealthy family members, right? Turns out, it's not the county/cities job to make sure they're actually paying the taxes, it's theirs.
Right of redemption window has more than lapsed. The homeowners better get ready to shift some of the 500/mo to the new road owners.
High property taxes keeping the peons out is fine and dandy until the poor buy your road at auction lmao.
Jason Hirko
Developer from San Antonio, TX
replied over 3 years ago
Originally posted by @Jay J. :
I don't get it.. what's the point??
I mean, its not like the 'road owner' now owns the homes or anything.. (seriously, they just bought a bill bill, didn't they??) what are they going to do, make it a toll road??!! lol
Parking...
Matt K.
from Walnut Creek, California
replied over 3 years ago
Since this is a private road... does the owner of the road:
Assume the landscaping contracts (I highly doubt a place like this is doing their own landscaping)
Maintenance for the road itself? Is it on some kind of schedule set forth by the HOA?
What about the utilities like the sewer/water lines... since it's a private road wonder who has ownership in the road itself.
Dennis Weber
Real Estate Investor from Indianapolis, Indiana
replied over 3 years ago
But wouldn't the homeowners have an easement after so many years? They would in my state.
Matt K.
from Walnut Creek, California
replied over 3 years ago
I'm talking who is responsible for replacement/repair not access. Around here a lot of homes the responsibility ends at the street or the curb. I'd be curious if the HOA (who previously owned the street) was responsible for all the repairs and upkeep of the "common" areas that would include the road. But since the HOA no longer owns the road would that responsibility be passed on to the new owner?
I guess basically is this new owner responsible for upkeep of this road until it reaches the public street.
Desmond Alexander
Real Estate Investor from Bentonville, Arkansas
replied over 3 years ago
I saw this and thought it was hilarious. They got a heck of deal haha
Ryan Lee
Investor from Bowie, Maryland
replied over 3 years ago
Originally posted by @Matt K. :
I'm talking who is responsible for replacement/repair not access. Around here a lot of homes the responsibility ends at the street or the curb. I'd be curious if the HOA (who previously owned the street) was responsible for all the repairs and upkeep of the "common" areas that would include the road. But since the HOA no longer owns the road would that responsibility be passed on to the new owner?
I guess basically is this new owner responsible for upkeep of this road until it reaches the public street.
Not sure what the laws was 30 years ago when they first develop the area
Matt K.
from Walnut Creek, California
replied over 3 years ago
This area been around since like 1905...
Danny Grey
Investor from La Jolla, California
replied over 3 years ago
Originally posted by @Ryan Lee :
Originally posted by @Matt Katsaris:I love that they kinda sticking it to the wealthy a little.
Why? Do you think this neighborhood's residents deserve to have it stuck to them because they are financially successful?
Bruce Lynn
Real Estate Broker from Coppell, TX
replied over 3 years ago
Saw this recently in Texas two where a commercial building had several parcels of land around it. One was the entrance to the parking lot and a small sliver of the parking lot. It was near Austin if I remember right. In the end I decided it was probably not worth the fight I would create. At least the tax authority seems to be on the buyer's side. I'm sure there will be some fun legal battles at some point. Hope someone can keep us in the loop as to what happens.
Bruce Lynn
Real Estate Broker from Coppell, TX
replied over 3 years ago
I am reaching out to the buyers to see if they will keep us updated as to what happens.
@Matt K. since you are in the area, could you keep an eye on this for us and update us periodically as to what happens.
This should be very interesting.
Bruce Lynn
Real Estate Broker from Coppell, TX
replied over 3 years ago
Looking at google maps, I wonder if it is the circle. That should be interesting.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/26+Presidio+Terrace,+San+Francisco,+CA+94118/@37.7882039,-122.46166,17.73z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x8085873acfc5aa6d:0xc4f3f3511cd36c3c!8m2!3d37.7876463!4d-122.460155
Matt K.
from Walnut Creek, California
replied over 3 years ago
I think there's a guard shack at the entrance or at least a guard to keep people out. I think his smartest play would of been to offer to lease it back to the HOA....
Joe Splitrock
(Moderator) -
Rental Property Investor from Sioux Falls, SD
replied over 3 years ago
Maybe they should try being nice to the new owner and offer to work something out. They purchased it legally due to an HOA mistake.
My favorite quote:
And, the spokeswoman told the paper, "Ninety-nine percent of property owners in San Francisco know what they need to do, and they pay their taxes on time — and they keep their mailing address up to date."
Patrick Desjardins
Real Estate Investor from Amherst, Virginia
replied over 3 years ago
Not sure why people here are siding with the buyer. Sure, they did nothing wrong, but trying to invest in a neighborhood private road is pretty lame, akin to patent trolls. Nothing to be proud of!
David Faulkner
Investor from Orange County, California
replied over 3 years ago
I saw this story earlier and had a chuckle as well ... I agree with some other posters, this strategy won't likely work out for the buyers for the exact same reason that governments don't typically succeed in using eminent domain to build freeways through the middle of really nice neighborhoods ...
David Ferrette
Developer from Austin, TX
replied over 3 years ago
I am with Patrick on this one. They are not bringing any value to the situation, they are only trying to exploit a situation for their own gain. I am all for people making a buck, just not at the expense of others.
Clint Shelley
Surveyor from Dothan, Alabama
replied over 3 years ago
This is a classic hold your deed hostage play. This will settle where the owners will probably buy the title back. If not the new owner who thought he bought a deal will be liable for all of this maintenance which will be thousands. The homeowners could sue for an ingress-egress-utility easement claiming continuous uninterrupted use. This would be called a prescriptive easement. Usually the new owner figures out what the other side will spend in attorneys fees and sell for a few dollars less. It's a legal circus🤑
Clint
Dennis Weber
Real Estate Investor from Indianapolis, Indiana
replied over 3 years ago
@Clint Shelley an easement is more likely the case. I think the investor lost his money. Also, after his motives are known, like maybe that he only purchased this property to extort money from the home owners, his legal problems become worse. No win here.