Mia Cortés Castro Photo
Daniel Marca (right) and fam: "We really just wanted a home in which our family can grow up and live for a long time.”
Looking forward to new memories to be made as new homeowners in the Hill, Daniel Marca and María González and their two young children explored the perimeter of an empty and partially boarded up house on Tyler Street that they won after ending on top of a crowded tax foreclosure auction.
That auction took place on Saturday midday outside of the abandoned single-family house at 64 Tyler St.
Marca, a construction worker whose family currently rents an apartment in Newhallville, submitted the high bid of $84,000 to beat out 15 other interested buyers.
The city first filed a foreclosure lawsuit against the property’s previous owner back in March 2022 for two years of unpaid property taxes. That tax debt had added up to over $13,600 by the time the court entered a judgment of foreclosure by sale this past May. The city last appraised the property for tax purposes as worth $159,400.
64 Tyler St.
“It’s hard to find a house in New Haven at an affordable price these days,” Marca said on Saturday. “We really just wanted a home in which our family can grow up and live for a long time.”
The 64 Tyler St. house has three bedrooms, one bathroom, a garage, and a backyard. It sits in a quiet stretch of the neighborhood, facing Evergreen Cemetery. Some of Marca’s neighbors to-be came out on Saturday to greet the family and meet their new neighbors.
Marcia, the family's new neighbor, telling them all about the property.
The family — Daniel Marca, María González, and their two children Iker and Milan — currently residing in Newhallville. They plan to live in the Tyler Street house long-term.
Marca, due to a background in construction, is preparing to do all of the needed repairs to the house himself, with help from other family members who also work in construction.
Coming in to Saturday’s auction, however, Marca and González were not planning on being able to celebrate. They had come prepared to lose out on yet another house. They were surprised when it finally worked out for them.
González walks around her new house for the first time with her two children.
“After two tries, we really didn’t think we were gonna get it,” said Marca.
Their oldest son, Iker, was very excited about “everything” having to do with the house. He danced down the driveway and even asked his mother if they could finally get a dog, to which he received a grateful “yes” from González.
“Owning a house brings us one step closer to the American Dream,” said González.
Marca: "I'm shaking man. I'm so excited."
One of the property’s neighbors, Marcia, said that the previous owner of 64 Tyler St. had allowed neighbors to park their cars in her backyard and store their belongings in the house. According to Marcia, during the pandemic, the previous owner moved to New Jersey and was never heard from again. The neighbors using her property were simply instructed to keep paying her property taxes, which they could no longer afford to do, leading to the property’s foreclosure.
Other bidders at the auction.
Other bidders who showed up to Saturday’s auction included a woman and her dad looking to make their first big investment, a father and his son looking to buy a house for his partner, a man looking to help out his friend in the bidding process, a couple of house flippers, and a family of four from New York looking for a roomier home.
“I’d like to fix it up for my family,” said the father of the family of four, Sergio Meléndez. “It’s a great opportunity in a great location close to downtown,” added his partner, Mayra Cuenca.
Iker Marca González: "Does this mean we can finally get a dog?"
About half of the interested buyers who showed up and signed up to participate in the auction actually wound up submitting bids. The auction went on for 38 rounds, with a starting bid of $22,100 from the City of New Haven. The bids went up by $100 or $200 at a time, with the 38th and final bid being Marca’s at $84,000.
Marca raising the auction placard for the last time, placing the winning bid.
After the auction ended, Marca filled out the necessary paperwork with the auction’s court-appointed attorney, Benjamin Robert Boutaugh, and handed over a deposit on the property, a required check of $12,700.
“Going once, going twice, sold to number six!” Boutaugh said, ready to shake Marca and González’s hands.
Boutaugh and Marca going over the paperwork.
Their handshake marked the start of a new adventure for the family — and, for now, a homeowning dream almost fulfilled.
Marca shaking his new neighbor's hand after signing.
See below for other recent Independent articles about foreclosures.
• Landscaper Cleans Up At Townsend Foreclosure
• Investor Bows Out After Family Plea
• Farnam Founder Tops Foreclosure Auction
• Bank’s Bid Beats Local Buyers
• No Bidders Show For Newhall St. Auction
• Auction Keeps Owner In Neighborhood
• Auction Winner Remembers The Roses
• Homeowner Battles“Tangled Title” Foreclosure
• Foreclosure Sends Tenants Packing