Desperate search to find buyer for ‘ugly’ but FREE four-bedroom Minnesota house in 90 days

A Minnesota woman is giving away her four-bedroom home for free – but the offer comes with a catch.

Whoever becomes the new owner of the property will have just three months to pick up and move the entire structure out of Jordan County.

Barb Kochlin inherited the house when she bought the brewery complex it sits on from her grandmother Gail Anderson, the first female mayor of Jordan, in 2011.

But the house, which Kochlin describes as ‘godawful ugly’, has become a thorn in her side as city codes means she is unable to renovate it back to a single home, and she has been unable to find a buyer. 

Barb Kochlin is willing to give away her four-bedroom property in Jordan, Minnesota for free but still can’t find a new owner

Real estate investor and property manager has been trying to get rid of place on a brewery complex for a year

Real estate investor and property manager has been trying to get rid of place on a brewery complex for a year 

Kochlin says the 'architecture is pretty outside' but there's 'no Old World charm inside' the home in Jordan

Kochlin says the ‘architecture is pretty outside’ but there’s ‘no Old World charm inside’ the home in Jordan

‘The city says it’s ugly. I say it’s historic,’ Kochlin, a real estate investor and property manager, told Star Tribune. 

‘Although she also said that with a ‘cork backsplash, horrible wallpaper and fake brick’ it’s from ‘some era when nobody had any taste’.

With no water and sewer connections, the house was moved there in 2002 and has been vacant for more than 20 years.

Electricity, heating, ventilation and air conditioning have recently become available but that hasn’t helped find a buyer.

The new owner will need to pay around $20,000 to move it from the brewery land and $150,000 to fix up the place

The new owner will need to pay around $20,000 to move it from the brewery land and $150,000 to fix up the place

Her grandmother moved it there in 2002 and used it to store antiques but there is no water or sewage connection

Her grandmother moved it there in 2002 and used it to store antiques but there is no water or sewage connection

She described it as having 'cork backsplash, horrible wallpaper and fake brick' from 'some era when nobody had any taste'

She described it as having ‘cork backsplash, horrible wallpaper and fake brick’ from ‘some era when nobody had any taste’

She said her grandmother renovated the place but used it for storing antiques she sold.

However she has been unable to renovate the house to her liking as it would violate city codes. The city has denied her request to rezone the parcel for a single family home and now it had become a nuisance for Kochlin’s commercial space.

Kochlin considered turning it into a triplex but said ‘parking is my biggest issue’ as the home is perched between a hill and a highway.

The house has been vacant for more than 20 years but recently electricity, heating, ventilation and air conditioning was fitted

The house has been vacant for more than 20 years but recently electricity, heating, ventilation and air conditioning was fitted

The city has denied her request to rezone the parcel for a single family home and now it had become a nuisance for Kochlin

The city has denied her request to rezone the parcel for a single family home and now it had become a nuisance for Kochlin

Kochlin considered turning it into a triplex but said 'parking is my biggest issue' as it's perched between a hill and a highway

Kochlin considered turning it into a triplex but said ‘parking is my biggest issue’ as it’s perched between a hill and a highway

Her former partner drew out plans for a bed and breakfast but Kochlin had ‘no interest’ in running one.

Kochlin admits she got some interest after a posting a sign in front of the Victorian house with a turret and stained-glass windows saying the place was free. 

But while the ‘architecture is pretty outside’ she said it ‘doesn’t have Old World charm inside’ and it didn’t attract the right buyer.

After verbally agreeing with the city to demolish it by the end of the summer if she can’t get it moved within 90 days, she has now listed it on Craigslist.

There it appears for $5,000 and for tax purposes Kochlin states its value is $50,000.

Kochlion agreed to have it demolished if she can't get rid of it by the end of the summer after agreeing to a 90-day deadline

Kochlion agreed to have it demolished if she can’t get rid of it by the end of the summer after agreeing to a 90-day deadline

She notes in her classified post that the ideal person will have land south of Jordan because of the costs attached to moving the house.

Kochlin estimates the buyer will have to fork out an extra $20,000 get it off the brewery land.

The costs rise with distance and contributing factors can include moving utility lines to get taller structures across an area.

She told Star Tribune that fixing it up will likely mean spending another $150,000.

Seriously interested buyers can register interest at breeproperties@yahoo.com.

Gail Anderson

Barb Kochlin

Barb Kochlin (right) bought the property from her grandmother, Gail Anderson (left), who was the first female mayor of Jordan

On Craigslist the home appears for $5,000 and for tax purposes Kochlin states its value is $50,000

On Craigslist the home appears for $5,000 and for tax purposes Kochlin states its value is $50,000

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