Man Buys Gorgeous Villa For $9,000 Only To Discover It's Actually A Strip Of Grass Worth $50

Jul 09, 2021

Buying expensive items before you see them in person can be risky. One man bought a home from a county auction that turned out to be less than he anticipated. In a story from June 2019, Kerville Holness from Tamarac, Florida thought he was purchasing a beautiful villa worth $177,000 for only $9,100. But in reality, he received a foot-wide strip of land that is valued at $50. 

Holness thought he was getting the deal of a lifetime when it turned out to be too good to be true. Now, Holness is saying he was deceived by the online property auction for Broward County, Florida. The property he bought is a 1-foot-wide by a 100-foot-long strip of grass that extends between the two garages of a duplex.

Holness has said that he’s considered charging rent to the owners of the duplex for the wall that separates the building. One of the owners stated they have no idea how he brought the property but they will not be paying any money to the man. The duplex owner added that they will move their mailboxes off the strip of grass if need be.

What Holness really wants is for the county to give him his money back, but local officials say that may not be possible. Holness claims the property appraiser's pictures linked to the auction site made it appear as if he was bidding on the villa. However, the appraiser’s site and information on the county’s tax site both state that the property has no building value and is only a foot wide. 

With all of the correct information located online for anyone to find, there is not a very good chance of Holness getting a refund. Sun Sentinel reports that the property “starts at the curb where two mailboxes have been installed, goes under the wall separating the garages of two adjoining Spring Lake villas, then extends out to the back of the lot.”

Holness told the publication, “If I’m vindictive enough, I can cut right through the garage wall and the home to get to my air space, but what use would that be to me?” The situation seems incredibly frustrating for Holness. Hopefully, he is able to sell the land somehow.

“It’s deception,” said Holness. “There was no demarcation to show you it’s just a line going through (the villa duplex), even though they have the tools to show that.” This was the man’s first online auction and he claims it will also be his last. Holness hopes his story can be a cautionary tale for those buying property online. He suggests always going to see the place in person first.

Gary Singer, a real estate attorney who writes for the Sun Sentinel said, “He may go to court and find some error in the sale procedure. Generally speaking, he bought what he was supposed to have bought.” Therein lies the reason Holness won’t be getting his money back. 

The county auction site now has a message warning bidders to do their research and to be wary of offers that are too good to be true. 

What do you think of this story? Should Holness get his money back for the property? Let us know your opinion and be sure to send this along to your loved ones.