The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority plans to auction 64 houses and lots to the highest bidder Monday and Tuesday.
It will be the first time NORA has conducted an auction entirely online. The agency is teaming up with Hilco Real Estate LLC, as it has for past live auctions.
NORA took over thousands of abandoned Road Home properties after Hurricane Katrina and has periodically held such auctions to reduce that number.
As of August, the city had about 28,000 blighted properties, officials noted.
Properties up for grabs next week include single- and multi-family homes and vacant lots in the Broadmoor, Filmore, Gentilly, Hollygrove, Lakeview, New Orleans East and St. Roch neighborhoods, among others.
Jeff Hebert, NORA’s executive director, said his group is eager to launch the new process.
“We are excited to make available this next pool of properties and to see how the process works online,” Hebert said. “We have received hundreds of inquiries since launching our online database of properties, and we look forward to this next opportunity to divest ourselves of these vacant parcels and structures, giving more people the opportunity to call New Orleans home.”
Those who want to participate must register by Friday at the auction website, www.hilcorealestate.com/NORA.
They must provide initial deposits of $2,500 per property for a maximum of five properties. Those deposits can be made by cash, cashier’s check, wire transfer or credit card. Once deposits and an auction agreement are received, bidders will receive a bidder number.
Properties will be sold to the highest bidder, regardless of price.
Successful bidders must submit signed agreements and additional deposits no later than 3 p.m. Nov. 13. They must agree to rehab or complete construction on the property within one year of the auction and keep it compliant with city regulations.
Bidding will open at 8 a.m. Monday and continue through Tuesday, closing at 5:15 p.m.
See a list of the properties at www.hilcorealestate.com/NORA.