By Samantha Joseph
Staff writer
STUART -- A property gift from a dedicated parishioner will help fund the mission of a local church, said publicist Kim Waser.
Madalyn Klimack's gift of a condominium in Cedar Pointe Villages in Stuart generated about $28,600 for St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Her estate donated the property to the church, which in turn auctioned it and will use the money toward several community based programs.
"The church didn't really have a reason to own a condo, so they asked if we could sell it for them," said Reed Hartman, a congregant who is also a licensed auctioneer and real estate agent.
Church officials auctioned the property to avoid carrying costs, such as insurance and management fees, over the six months it typically takes to sell a property via a real estate listing.
"This is the first time I've sold for a church," said Mr. Hartman, whose firm has done about eight real estate auctions.
The Cedar Pointe deal was a 60-day sale in which the buyer paid all closing costs, including insurance and title.
Hartman Auction Group held the auction in November and closed the sale Dec. 6. Church officials welcomed the process, which saw the donated condo sell for more than a comparable unit in the same development, which sold for $27,900.
Mr. Hartman, whose family has been part of St. Joseph's Catholic Church for about 50 years, said his company was pleased to be part of the process that raised funds for several ministries, including child-development programs, a soup kitchen, Hispanic outreach, transportation assistance and initiatives that assist the area's low-income residents.
"The church has so many ministries. They cover such an array of different things that it was an honor to be part of this," said Mr. Hartman, whose auction firm opened in 2011 and has since sold and closed on 18 properties.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church representatives were not available for comment by press time.
St. Joseph's Catholic Church is located at 1200 Southeast 10th St., Stuart. For more information, call (772) 287-2727.