No I didn't make it to Moonbeam but a fitting end to a very good last year.

[Dave2]

Frank   can rest as his flying saucer secret is safe as the boss decided that Smooth Rock Falls was the limit she wanted to drive to in Gods country.  

Finally had a chance to see what we actually won a year ago in Cochrane and all in all better then I thought.   Found out the local towns people were pissed off that a stranger from southern Ontario had won them which is generally a good sign.  (We won every thing  on the tax sale a year ago but competition is a little lighter in far Northern Ontario. Locals were really curious about us particularly as it turned out the reason for one of the tax sales was one of the properties was a former grow op.(Plants were grown outside but you wouldn't believe the number of empty Styrofoam cups on the property.) The former owner of which is still getting free room and board courtesy of the Ontario Government.)

Had a real interesting trip and even had a chance to research the big property for sale on this upcoming tax sale in Cochrane. Bottom line is that unless there is marketable timber on it no road access or hydro unlike the ones I bought last year.    

Both properties are on year round roads, within 15 minutes of town with hydro and bell at lot line.  (We had an interesting half hour when we first visited the property as the grass was cut along the southern boundary which is road allowance and we wondered if we would have to deal with a squatter but it was just the local municipality as we also have a legal address). The one we have decided to keep (160 acres) had a few unexpected bonuses the investigation of which prevented us from viewing the local polar bears. The bonuses we got included; well; septic; two dwellings one with natural ventilation; a small barn and a garage and a long well constructed gravel driveway into the middle of the property (properties of this size measure 1 kilometer by 1 kilometer). We are also only 10 minutes from important things in life like the local beer store. (1 mile of year round gravel road and the rest by a major highway # 11)  

The bad news is that to run in power from the lot line I estimate at about $30,000 - $35,000 to the existing dwellings. (this is the disadvantage of big land pieces) Also the main residence was pretty well trashed which is a shame as it was built only 10 years ago. The remaining one will make a good hunt camp / vacation dwelling with out buildings and we are going to preserve it and bring it back.  (The western boundary is within a 100 yards of a major river to which we have access.)

Lots of wildlife. Moose tracks galore; but my original idea of running cattle on it to clear the land may have to wait a bit. The next door farmer has shot 3 bears and two timber wolves (the big ones not coyotes) so far this year )protecting this livestock)  and we saw lots of sign.  

What we we do with the smaller property (75 acres) will wait until we get the results of our timber survey.

Like after a very big meal it looks like we will be out of the tax sale purchase game other then local for at least the rest of the year as currently I have various construction activities underway on at least half a dozen properties.  Needless to say we would not being this if we didn't think there was good value in the original purchases.

[Pfm1011]

sounds like its time to back off on buying.. dump some property,  realize some profits. then jump back in and repeat

grow op...too bad they got it all..