What are options with worthless land? (Franklin: real estate, HOA, homes)

[Jane0218]

A lot we purchased in Franklin County in 2005 has been deemed "non-perkable." So it's worthless.

We know, we know: We shouldn't have purchased it if it hadn't been perked. We were new to the state and never heard the term "perk" while we were looking for land with the local real estate agent. We told him we wanted buildable lots, lots that were "high and dry." He did not recommend making sure the lots 'perk' before we buy them. We never heard of this expression until we began selling the lots. They all were sold, except this last one.

So, we can't sell it. The adjacent lot owners are not interested in it.
It is in a lake community, and our POA dues run about $500/year. The real estate agent claims he did recommend we get the lot perk'd, but he didn't. It's our word against his.

Do we have any options here? We do not want to continue to pay annual dues on a worthless lot. Any suggestions or advice on where to go to get suggestions would be appreciated!

[NewUser]

Depending on where it is located, perhaps you can donate it to the local government for a park, or a land conservancy organization. Maybe that would allow some tax break? I don't know.

[Jane0218]

Originally Posted by NewUser

Depending on where it is located, perhaps you can donate it to the local government for a park, or a land conservancy organization. Maybe that would allow some tax break? I don't know.

Thanks for the reply. The lot is in a lake community. Can't donate it to any government agency. They wouldn't want it. It's only 1/2 acre and the community already has a park. But maybe the land conservancy....? I'm not sure about that. There are homes being built all around the place.

[North_Raleigh_Guy]

Originally Posted by Jane0218

Thanks for the reply. The lot is in a lake community. Can't donate it to any government agency. They wouldn't want it. It's only 1/2 acre and the community already has a park. But maybe the land conservancy....? I'm not sure about that. There are homes being built all around the place.

Who confirmed that the land does not perc? The county health department or a NC licensed soil scientist or both? It might be worth your while to get a second opinion to make sure a special albeit more expensive treatment system couldn't be used on the land. I would want to be 100% sure before I wrote off the land as "worthless".

[MI-Roger]

1. An "Engineered Field" may be possibility. This involves bringing in enough freely draining soil, and placing it atop the native soil, that you create a perkable area for your septic. The challenge here is the small lot size.
2. A "Pressurized Sewer" is another option. With the most common method, all sanitary discharge from the home is collected in an underground tank containing a sewage lift pump. The pump then sends the waste to a local munincipal system.
3. Presurized Sewer Method #2 - the black water leaving your septic tank is collected in another tank with a sewage lift pump. This liquid is them pumped to a field located on another plot of land that will perk.

None of these are cheap solutions, but might be better than writing off your investment in the land entirely. Option #4 is to hold and wait. Maybe a community presurized sewer will be installed in the future and your 1/2 acre of waterfront land will suddenly sky-rocket in value!

[goat1of2]

A "lake community" huh? I suppose that means there are restrictive covenants against camping on the land. Park an RV or travel trailer on it (self-contained sewer system) and sell it as a camp! I did that once, but it sounds like you might not be able to. Check and see, though!

[dansdrive]

Possibly if you donate to the community it could just be greeway property. Does not have to be a park just a nature area. This gets you off the hook for the Taxes and HOA dues.

[al_roethlisberger]

Originally Posted by dansdrive

Possibly if you donate to the community it could just be greeway property. Does not have to be a park just a nature area. This gets you off the hook for the Taxes and HOA dues.

That's what I was going to suggest.... in many lake communities, much of the lake access is eventually limited by all the private property.

Even if the lake already has public access and a park at some points, it still may be nice to have another nice green area for access that isn't encumbered by a structure.

See if the POA/HOA would be willing to pay you something worth your while for the lot *shrug*

Al

[kelly237]

Is it near the lake or lake front??
Is it lake Royale??
What would you sell it for??

[LLN]

Well, I certainly do not want to insult you, but what did you think happened to sewage out in the country?

I would ask to see the documentation from where you were informed by the realtor. The way things work these days, I cannot believe he or she did not have you sign some disclosure form relating to non-sewer served lots perking. Just hard to believe. There is not a paper trail (if it was in fact disclosed). I would at a minimum file a complaint with whomever I could. Again, if a realtor recommended that you get the lots perked, and you did not, I just cannot believe he or she would not have a signed paper to that effect.

If there is a chance that the community will ever get big enuf to have sewer, then the lot is not worthless. I would also work with the POA about the fee. What is your "worthless" lot getting for $500 per year? I cannot imagine much. Seems that if you can get out from under the annual fee (for nothing, in all probability) you could keep the lot until either growth or technology catches up.

Good Luck.