The Secretary of State's office currently holds more than 13,000 homes forfeited to the state. Thirty-eight hundred are in Hinds County inside of Jackson. Secretary of State, Delbert Hoseman says a public auction can decrease that number.
"What this will do is give the city and the county and the schools half of this money. As we go forward, they'll become tax paying properties, so they'll go back on the rolls, which is what we want to do," Hoseman says.
Phyllis Parker is a realtor. She says blighted homes depreciate property value, and the auction could be a win-win situation for buyers and the city.
"A blighted piece of property is an eye-sore. An improved and restored home improves property value. When that piece of property is improved on a particular street, you're increasing the value of that neighborhood," says Parker.
Secretary Hoseman says it's important to place the property back on tax rolls for economic progress and the betterment of the communities statewide.
"There are crime issues with this. Quite frankly, we want to make sure that those are at a minimum. In the past, we've sold almost every one we've put up for auction, so we're very hopeful that Jackson will have the same kind of result," Hoseman says.
Valued at more than 14.6 million dollars, available properties will be advertised for public bidding beginning today on the Secretary of State's website: http://www.sos.ms.gov/PublicLands/Jackson/
