Home bidding suspension in Alexandria, as two more properties are up for tax sale on Wednesday
In the City of Alexandria, Virginia, three properties are scheduled for tax sale next week, with one of them - the home at 718 Parkway Terrace owned by Donald and Virginia Layman - experiencing a bidding suspension.
The Layman family has been the proud owners of their home since 1974, but approximately $65,000 in unpaid taxes, penalties, interest, and collection fees have accumulated on the property since 2016. The minimum bid for the suspended property has been raised to $287,500.
Meanwhile, the 535-square-foot unit at 5340 Holmes Run Parkway, Unit 212, owned by Guishard Acquisition Trust LLC, attracted 47 bids totaling $23,000. However, the trust has not made a full payment since 2016, and about $5,000 in debt has accumulated on the trust's property.
The assessed value of the unit owned by Guishard Acquisition Trust LLC has dropped significantly over the years, from $127,886 in 2015-2016 to $59,473 in 2025.
The other two properties heading to auction continue to attract bids, with the property at 718 Parkway Terrace having attracted 36 bids reaching $285,000 as of Friday. If these properties sell at their current bid levels, Miriam T. Sesman could recover approximately $65,000 and Guishard Acquisition Trust roughly $18,000 after taxes and fees are satisfied.
The institution that interrupted the bidding for the property at 718 Parkway Terrace was the local municipal zoning board. The bidding on Sesman's condo at 2980 South Columbus Street, #C2, reached $95,000 with 47 bids. Sesman's condo has not received a payment since 2017, and approximately $30,000 in taxes, penalties, and fees have accumulated since 2018.
The assessed value of the Layman's property has climbed from $750,767 to $968,583 over the years, while the assessed value of Sesman's condo has remained at $100,000 since 2018.
The city conducts tax sales for real property with delinquent taxes, following Virginia Code Section 58.1-3965. Properties selling at discounts to assessed values attract bidders in Alexandria's housing market, where the median home price has reached $672,619.
The online-only auction for the remaining active lots begins closing at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20. Interested bidders must register in advance at www.tacssale.com and complete identity verification.
The city offers financial assistance programs for residents, including free tax preparation services, utility assistance, and emergency financial aid. Early contact with the city's assistance programs can prevent small problems from becoming insurmountable debt.
The tax sale process generally takes approximately one year from account referral to court docket removal, with litigation typically lasting six to nine months. Virginia law requires the city to hold surplus funds in an interest-bearing escrow account for two years before they can be claimed by former owners.
The city's Revenue Division encourages residents to contact them before falling behind on payments at (703) 746-4800 or [email protected]. However, the division could not be immediately reached for comment about the bidding suspension or whether Wednesday's auction will proceed as scheduled.
It is important to note that the current sales involve properties with years of unpaid taxes rather than recent market pressures. For other Alexandria residents with property tax concerns, it is crucial to address them promptly to prevent potential issues.
Read also:
- Planned construction of enclosures within Görlitzer Park faces delays
- Foreign financial aid for German citizens residing abroad persists
- Hulk Hogan's successful transformation of his wrestling persona into a lucrative business entity
- United States and Russia prepared to delve deeper into negotiations regarding the Sakhalin 1 oil and gas project
