TRUMBULL COUNTY Despite $10 selling price, property's taxes won't be lowered

The three-bedroom home is worth $68,100, according to the auditor's Web site.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- The house may be cheap, but the property taxes will remain the same.
The amount of taxes for the home at 339 North Road will remain the same despite the fact the house was bought for $10, said Dave Hines, Trumbull County auditor.
"Normally, if the property taxes for a house are based at $70,000 and someone buys it for $62,000 then they can come in and get a rollback on the property tax," Hines said. "But, to come in here and get a rollback because they bought the house for $10, no way. No one asked, but there is no way we would do that because it is not reasonable."
According to the auditor's Web site, the three-bedroom ranch-style home is worth $68,100. The annual tax is $1,062.52, according to the county auditor's office.
Siblings Holly and Joe Taylor of Mount Dora, Fla., paid $10 for the home on eBay.
The Taylors said they do not know why the former owner sold the house so cheap.
The home was sold by George C. Roscoe of Turnberry Court, Howland. Roscoe has an unpublished number and could not be reached to comment.
"The taxes were paid by the former owner in January when they were due," Hines said. "Everything was up to date."
A fixer-upper
Joe Taylor, 34, says he plans to fix it up and sell it. He hopes to get around $75,000 for the house, which has central air and a two-car unattached garage.
Nestled between East Market Street and U.S. Route 422, the home is within walking distance of North Road Elementary School.
The house and yard are in good condition, Taylor has said.
"I'm shocked that a house would go for $10, and I just can't understand it," Hines said. "You would think someone would leave a home to their kids or a charity before selling it for $10. This is the first house that I can remember that went for that little money. This has never happened before, at least not here."
Hines said he also thinks this is the first time a home in Trumbull County was bought on eBay.
sinkovich@vindy.com