Churches Taking Their Properties to Auction

HOUSTON-When Houston-area commercial properties have been shopped and become “stale,” one way to move them out quickly is by auction, according to Amy Silvey of Clay & Co. That applies to church properties, too.

Silvey says “it’s a common practice. It happens every so often.” She has moved three such properties last week for the Catholic Diocese of Houston-Galveston.

Marking the highest transaction, Cantu Investments is shelling out $168,000 for 11.5 acres of commercial land along Wallisville Road in northeast Houston. In other sales, Glenn Bailey has paid $75,000 for 7.5 acres of commercial land on Longmire Road in Montgomery County, just north of Houston while Randy and Gary Weiss are the successful bidders for 10.5 acres of commercial land along Franz Road in the Houston suburb of Katy. The Weiss’ are paying $85,000 for the acreage.

Another church land transaction involved the auction of five acres along Barkaloo Road near Cedar Bayou Lynchburg by the Missouri Street Church of Christ. It has been was been purchased by Jamie Martinez for an undisclosed amount.

“These were all part of a total auction package of 33 properties,” Silvey says. “Brokers and sellers use the auction to move out slow selling properties.