How Many Towns Were Put Up for Sale on eBay in the United States?
After reading a story about Scenic, South Dakota being for sale, I wondered how many towns were sold on eBay. This curiosity of mine happened after reading about Bridgeville, California, that was mentioned in a real estate article mentioning this town being sold on eBay.
Below are the three towns in the U.S. that I could find being auctioned off online to the highest bidder. The sad thing is Bridgeville has been bought and sold three times since the start of this decade.
However, these three tiny towns aren't the only ones to have been sold in the U.S. I did find there were at least two other towns in the U.S. and one in Canada that has been sold in the past 11 years.
If this is the latest trend for owners of towns to get rid of the excess real estate that is draining them dry, what's to be said for real estate moguls who bite off more than they can chew with these fixer uppers?
Wauconda, Washington - On eBay's auction block in 2010
In March 2010, a Washington town went up for sale on eBay. Wauconda, Washington, wasn't the first small town in the U.S. to be auctioned off on eBay, but it is one of the oldest to have been auctioned off on this site.
The last known bid was over $365,000 back in April 2010. The starting bid was at $359,000. It is not known from any of the news sources whether Daphne Fletcher sold this tiny town in northwest Washington that sits in the Okanogan National Forest.
Reports have put this sleepy little town in northeast and northwest Washington. If you plan to see if this small town is still up for sale, you may want to get its exact location before buying.
Bridgeville, California - Listed on eBay in 2002 and 2004
Bridgeville was the first town put up for sale on eBay in the U.S. However, it sold during the auction, but the winning bidder backed out of the deal when he saw the prize he had won. After he, ran as fast as Forest Gump, this tiny California town was eventually sold through a real estate agent. Looks like the first town sold didn't meet eye to eye with the winner.
The original winning bid was at $1.77 million. However, Bridgeville has been up for sale 3 more times since the sale through the real estate agent. In 2004, it was put up for sale for $700,000 again on eBay by the third owner.
Albert, Texas - Listed in October 2007 on eBay for over $2.5 million reserve price
Albert, Texas, is the second of three towns in the U.S. to be put on the auction block on eBay. Being an unincorporated town in Texas with a dwindling population, it wasn't hard for Bobby Cave to sink his teeth and hands into this tiny Texas town.
Since Cave couldn't sell off the whole town for his asking price, he did what any land owner would do to off load his prize onto someone else, he parceled it up and sold the town for $833,000 to a Texas family.
The Easley family at last record was renovating the town and planning to open the dance hall in 2010.
Sources
KATU Staff; Eastern Wash. town for sale on eBay
California town again for sale on eBay; MSNBC.msn.com
Albert, Texas; Wikipedia.com
How to buy a town: Have plenty of cash - and patience
Below are the three towns in the U.S. that I could find being auctioned off online to the highest bidder. The sad thing is Bridgeville has been bought and sold three times since the start of this decade.
However, these three tiny towns aren't the only ones to have been sold in the U.S. I did find there were at least two other towns in the U.S. and one in Canada that has been sold in the past 11 years.
If this is the latest trend for owners of towns to get rid of the excess real estate that is draining them dry, what's to be said for real estate moguls who bite off more than they can chew with these fixer uppers?
Wauconda, Washington - On eBay's auction block in 2010
In March 2010, a Washington town went up for sale on eBay. Wauconda, Washington, wasn't the first small town in the U.S. to be auctioned off on eBay, but it is one of the oldest to have been auctioned off on this site.
The last known bid was over $365,000 back in April 2010. The starting bid was at $359,000. It is not known from any of the news sources whether Daphne Fletcher sold this tiny town in northwest Washington that sits in the Okanogan National Forest.
Reports have put this sleepy little town in northeast and northwest Washington. If you plan to see if this small town is still up for sale, you may want to get its exact location before buying.
Bridgeville, California - Listed on eBay in 2002 and 2004
Bridgeville was the first town put up for sale on eBay in the U.S. However, it sold during the auction, but the winning bidder backed out of the deal when he saw the prize he had won. After he, ran as fast as Forest Gump, this tiny California town was eventually sold through a real estate agent. Looks like the first town sold didn't meet eye to eye with the winner.
The original winning bid was at $1.77 million. However, Bridgeville has been up for sale 3 more times since the sale through the real estate agent. In 2004, it was put up for sale for $700,000 again on eBay by the third owner.
Albert, Texas - Listed in October 2007 on eBay for over $2.5 million reserve price
Albert, Texas, is the second of three towns in the U.S. to be put on the auction block on eBay. Being an unincorporated town in Texas with a dwindling population, it wasn't hard for Bobby Cave to sink his teeth and hands into this tiny Texas town.
Since Cave couldn't sell off the whole town for his asking price, he did what any land owner would do to off load his prize onto someone else, he parceled it up and sold the town for $833,000 to a Texas family.
The Easley family at last record was renovating the town and planning to open the dance hall in 2010.
Sources
KATU Staff; Eastern Wash. town for sale on eBay
California town again for sale on eBay; MSNBC.msn.com
Albert, Texas; Wikipedia.com
How to buy a town: Have plenty of cash - and patience
Published by Karen Barnes
Karen is an online marketer, freelance writer, online game player, crafter, mother, wife, and home cook. She has worked in fast food, grocery stores, and a home and farm store. She studied business in hig... View profile
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