Minot Acquires 26 Foreclosed Properties for $130
The city council approved taking the tax-foreclosed condo lots from Ward County to recover unpaid assessments.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Commercial
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The Minot City Council unanimously approved acquiring 26 tax-foreclosed properties from Ward County for $5 each, $130 total. The city plans to sell the parcels as-is to a developer.
Why it matters
The city is acquiring the properties to recover at least part of more than $600,000 in unpaid special assessments. A developer could finish the project and add housing stock in the area.
The 26 parcels were purchased at $5 each, with Ward County waiving recording fees on the transfer. The city assessor has indicated the full unpaid assessment balance is unlikely to be recovered, and no buyer has yet been named.
The players
Minot City Council
The elected governing body of Minot, North Dakota, which voted to acquire the properties and direct their resale.
Ward County
The North Dakota county that held the tax-foreclosed properties and sold them to the city for $130 total.
The details
Most of the properties are vacant condo lots near 43rd Avenue Southwest. The city chose an as-is sale over dissolving the condominium declaration and replatting the land, avoiding that legal work and its costs.
Timeline
Nov. 5, 2026: Minot City Council unanimously approved acquiring the 26 tax-foreclosed properties from Ward County.
Market Landscape
Cities often acquire tax-foreclosed parcels to recoup unpaid assessments that outstrip what the land can return at sale. Minot's as-is resale of condo lots reflects that pattern of limited recovery on distressed residential land.
Residents near 43rd Avenue Southwest may see the vacant condo lots redeveloped if a buyer completes the project. The as-is sale means the land will change hands without the condominium declaration being dissolved first.
The takeaway
Distressed properties can carry large unpaid obligations that a city may only partly recover, so buyers and cities alike should weigh the full assessment balance before resale.
Further reading
Explore more Commercial real estate coverage tied to Minot's property market.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Kfyrtv.
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