Cool housing market ignites creative sales

With the housing market in a slump, more people are enticing buyers with creative sales tactics.

In Alta Sierra this weekend, one developer will auction his home to the highest bidder after failed attempts to sell the house on the traditional real estate market.

“In the depreciating market that we’re in, you have to be creative,” said Gary Stokes, who runs an affiliate branch of Fidelity Housing Solutions from his home in Lake of the Pines. The Phoenix-based company buys houses in seven days and offers non-traditional selling options.

Bidding will begin Sunday afternoon, starting at nearly $560,000 for the 3,400-square-foot house on more than two acres. It was appraised for $875,000, Stokes said.

He is expecting more than 200 people to show up for the auction. You can see more of the house at www.sellingsunday.com.

ooo

To contact Staff Writer Laura Brown, e-mail laurab@theunion.com or call 477-4231.