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WALKER-Cass County foreclosures continued to drop in 2016, while the number of arm's length property sales continued to rise, according to assessing department records.

There were 37 property foreclosures in 2016, down 10 from 2015 and about one-third the number recorded in 2013. An arm's length property sale is one that is outside of a sale to family members, for instance.

The 2016 foreclosures included 15 homesteaded properties, 20 cabins or other residential houses and two commercial properties. Twelve were located on a lake. Seventeen were worth less than $100,000. Another 10 were valued at $100,000 to $200,000. Eight were worth between $200,000 and $400,000. Two were worth between $400,000 and $1,000,000.

Buyers purchased 1,015 properties in Cass County during 2016. That is nine more than in 2015, but a considerable improvement from the low 570 property sales recorded in 2009 during the recession.

The 1,015 property sales still are well below the over 1,500 sold in 2004 and in 2005.

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