Seized SA home sells sight unseen despite $100k repair estimate

A dilapidated home seized by a South Australian council in a bid to recover unpaid rates has sold sight unseen for $65,500. About 12 bidders took their chances on the three-bedroom home, located at Lock, more than 600km west of Adelaide, despite being forbidden from looking inside prior to auction, confirmed Elders Eyre Peninsula selling agent Elaine Seal. She said the successful buyer was an online bidder from Victoria but their intention for the 898sqm property remained unknown. Photos taken from the property’s footpath revealed an overgrown, weed-infested front yard full of tree cuttings, rusted and overturned water tanks, an old lounge and three seemingly abandoned cars. 3 Dearman St, Lock. Supplied The yard is overgrown. Supplied The home’s front windows appeared partially boarded up, while interior blinds still visible had been shredded. Ms Seal, who had not been inside the home, estimated it could cost the new owner up to $100,000 to return it to a liveable state. While the home appeared unoccupied at the time of the sale, Ms Seal believed someone was living in it when it was first listed last month, with a bin waiting for rubbish collection sighted on the kerb in front of t...