Mason City, IA- Finding a home for sale isn't really a problem these days. Finding one for less than a dollar might be more challenging.
Mercy medical center North Iowa is expanding next spring. As part of that expansion, the hospital is hoping to turn a block of homes into more parking spaces.
While buying one of the thirteen homes will only cost you a dollar, the buyer is responsible for what happens after the sale is done.
You can't find much for a buck these days, but in Mason City, one dollar will get you one of the homes, as long as you can move it. One Mason City Council Member wants to make sure they don't move out of town.
"To lose 13 homes that's about $16,000 to the community between the city of Mason City and the school district and neither one of our budgets can afford a hit like that right now,” said Council Member Scott Tornquist.
He supports the hospital's expansion plans. He just doesn't want to lose the taxes from the homes. One Mason City resident has just the place for them.
"So homes down there, we've got like I say several other lots," said Ron Holt as he pointed to an open field along South Hoover Avenue.
Holt lives in the Central Heights Neighborhood and is a member of its association. He wants to see the homes go next door.
"It's a good close shot coming out here so the expenses fro moving the houses would be a whole lot less," Holt said.
The hospital is estimating the cost of moving one of the homes between $15 to 30,000 dollars. Moving of the several brick houses is more expensive.
Both Holt and Tornquist want like to see the city encourage buyers to keep the homes in town.
"Get it done locally before somebody else come in and takes it out from under us," said Holt.
"Maybe we're willing to sell them for people who are going to keep them in Mason city for a dollar maybe if they're going to leave the community we don't sell them for a dollar," said Tornquist.
At Tuesday night's City Council Meeting Tornquist suggested setting up a tax incentive to keep the homes in town. The measure got voted down. He's hopeful they can reach a compromise with the hospital.
Tornquist says the city is also going to lose a significant amount of its tax base because of flood buyouts.
He says the Mercy homes should take priority because the medical center wants to sell them by the spring. They have more time with those flooded out homes.
Potential buyers should also keep in mind, it may cost between $15-30,000 just to move the house, but they'll also have to purchase a lot for it and do the foundation work.
Mercy postponed an informational meeting scheduled for Wednesday night to discuss the homes.
There is another one scheduled at the center's east campus at six Thursday night.
