GREAT KILLS — Nearly three and a half years after Hurricane Sandy devastated parts of Staten Island, 55 more badly damaged homes will go up for auction with prices as low as $14,650.
But many potential buyers touring the boarded-up homes Wednesday said they had been unaware how much it would cost to repair and elevate the homes to flood standards.
"They're drawing you in with a low opening bid," said Steven Williams, a contractor who was looking for a home to fix up for his son. "For the most part I don't think it's going to be worthwhile."
Philip Besko said he hoped to get a home for a steal in the auction, but once he heard the cost of elevation, decided it might not be affordable for him unless he wins one on the cheap.
"The main trouble is that all of them require them to be lifted and that's another at least $100,000," Besko said. "All together it may not make sense."
The homes, some stripped down to their wood beams, incurred at least 50 percent damage during the storm. The state will put the 55 houses up for auction next month.
The Governor's Office of Storm Recovery (GOSR) purchased the homes through the Reacquisition for Redevelopment program after the storm, with the goal to sell them to be repaired.
Homes sold in the auction need to be elevated to flood standards and new owners need to have a certificate of occupancy within three years or they'll lose it to the state.
GOSR previously said the auction was mainly for developers and builders looking to invest in a property and stated on auction documents the need to elevate.
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However, that didn't stop some prospective homeowners from touring the site trying to snag a cheap deal.
Neila Nuzzi, a real estate agent who toured all the homes for investors and to potentially acquire one herself, said she worried some won't realize the high costs of elevation and eventually lose the property.
"A lot of the people on Staten Island don't realize that they have to go up, they're not aware of that when they bid," Nuzzi said, adding that she had several interested investors who were aware of the cost who might pick up a home.
"I don't want to see anybody lose a house. You put the hard-earned money and I don't want to see them lose their house."
