Interpreting Alberta listings

[bizurko]

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to interpret the info on the tax-sale listings from Alberta (short of hiring an Alberta-based real estate lawyer)?  There doesn't seem to be any way to get even a general idea about where a tax-property is located, and neither do phone numbers for the municipalities even seem to be listed!   
Thanks!

[Rob]

Okay lets look at a recent listing.



 Town of Okotoks
Notice is hereby given that under the provisions of the Municipal Government Act,
the Town of Okotoks will offer for sale, by public auction, in Council Chambers, 10
McRae Street, Okotoks, Alberta, on Friday, October 13, 2006, at 10:00 a.m., the
following lands:
Plan
Block
Lot
731655
33
14
7510111
30
23
9911006
16
9
Each parcel will be offered for sale subject to a reserve bid and encumbrances to the
reservations and conditions contained in the existing Certificate of Title.
The Town of Okotoks may, after the public auction, become the owner of any parcel
of land not sold at the public auction.
Terms: Cash or certified cheque.
Redemption may be effected by payment of all arrears of taxes and costs at any time
prior to the sale.
Dated at Okotoks, Alberta, July 24, 2006.
Allen Jenkins, Municipal Treasurer.

First thing to do is contact Allen Jenkins in the city of Okotoks (If no name is listed contact the treasurer on that city he/she will direct you to the right place).

In this property case there is an address because it is a house  10 McRae Street, Okotoks, Albert.   Use Google maps to find that house http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=10+McRae+St,+Okotoks,+AB,+Canada&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=50.727654,-113.974142&spn=0.024015,0.085831&om=1&iwloc=A

Remember it is a public auction so you need to show up at this address with money in hand on October 13, 2006.


But lets go over some of the numbers.  I picked this property because the numbers are fairly simple.  You see.

Plan
Block
Lot
731655
33
14
7510111
30
23
9911006
16
9

It might read:
Plan: 731655, 7510111, 9911006
Block: 33, 30, 16
Lot: 14, 23, 9

Plan is the plan number.  Block and lot are measurements used by the cities.

It gets more confusing when you start adding in compas measurement ( SE 7-30-23-4) (which is not in this property listing).


Hope it helps a bit.

[avoidconfusion]

Yes it is difficult to pinpoint most locations in Alberta. Some municipality websites have a legal desription map which really helps. I have had a hard time finding rural desriptions, I read something about being able to do through Google maps but I couldn't make it work. I am pretty new at this so I am still learning.