The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is putting up nearly 100 pieces of property for auction next month, including some sites in Southwest Michigan.
The DNR’s Michael Michalek tells us the department acquires parcels all over the state as a result of foreclosures and sells off the properties that it for which it doesn’t have a use.
“Most of these properties went through the state land review process, which occurred back between 2020 and 2024,” Michalek said. “We reviewed properties under a certain acreage and size and properties that were away from our main management districts.”
In Berrien County, there is one such property the DNR is auctioning off.
“The one in Berrien County in specific is a parcel that is landlocked. It does not have road access, but it does have frontage on Lake Michigan. So that’d be an example of a landlocked parcel that isn’t really serving much purpose for the public because it’s inaccessible to anyone but the landowners.”
The property is in the village of Shoreham, right off Lake Vista Drive. Michalek says the adjacent property owners have been notified it’s up for grabs because they’re the most logical buyers. The starting bid for that 120 feet of shoreline is $34,000, and it’ll be auctioned off on August 6.
Up for grabs that same day will be parcels all over Allegan County, some of which Michalek says might be attractive for hunting or camping. He also notes the DNR has three 80-acre parcels for sale in Lake County, far north of Southwest Michigan. Anyone interested in owning those 240 acres would have to shell out $540,000 to cover all three starting bids.
The land auctions start August 4 and end August 28 at Tax-Sale.info. Below is the full schedule for all auctions.
Aug. 4 – Lapeer County
Aug. 6 – Allegan and Berrien counties
Aug. 7 – Livingston County
Aug. 14 – Alger, Chippewa, Delta and Luce counties
Aug. 18 – Baraga, Dickinson, Houghton and Menominee counties
Aug. 19 – Crawford, Kalkaska, Ogemaw, Oscoda, Otsego and Roscommon counties
Aug. 20 – Antrim and Charlevoix counties
Aug. 21 – Alpena, Cheboygan, Iosco and Presque Isle counties
Aug. 25 – Oakland County
Aug. 26 – Oceana County
Aug. 27 – Lake County
Aug. 28 – Jackson County
