N.M. Stat. § 7-38-67.1 — NM_STATUTES Code / Chapter 7 / Article 38 / Section 7-38-67.1
§ 7-38-67.1. Sale of abandoned real property; notice of sale; requirements
Status: in_force

A. Abandoned real property may be sold by special sale.

B. Notice of the sale shall be published in a local newspaper within the county where the abandoned real property is located, or in a newspaper published in a county contiguous to or near the county in which the abandoned real property is located, the week immediately preceding the week of the sale. In cases where abandoned real property is offered for sale via an online platform pursuant to Subsection D of this section, the notice of the sale shall be published in a local newspaper within the county where the abandoned real property is located, or in a newspaper published in a county contiguous to or near the county in which the abandoned real property is located, the week immediately preceding the week of the beginning of the continuous online sale. Online sales notices pursuant to this section shall also be published on the property tax division's website. The notice shall:

(1) state the time and place of the sale;

(2) if the sale is made via an online sale pursuant to Subsection D of this section, state the date and time the sale will begin and expire and the property tax division's website where the property being sold will be listed;

(3) include the name of the subdivision in which the abandoned real property is located;

(4) state the total minimum bid; and

(5) provide the phone number of the property tax division and the web address where interested buyers may obtain copies of the list of properties to be sold.

C. Abandoned real property may be sold at public auction either by the department or an auctioneer hired by the department. The auction shall be held in the county where the abandoned real property is located at a time and place designated by the department.

D. Abandoned real property may be offered for sale via an online platform on the property tax division's website, and notice shall be given pursuant to Subsection B of this section. The sales of abandoned real property listed on the property tax division's website may be continuous until December 31 of the tax year in which the abandoned real property is offered for sale. For subsequent tax years, notice shall be given pursuant to Subsection B of this section before the abandoned real property listed on the property tax division's website can be reoffered for sale.

E. Before the sale, the department shall determine a minimum sale price for the abandoned real property. In determining the minimum price, the department shall consider the amount of all delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and costs for which the abandoned real property is being sold. If the department determines the total amount due is in excess of the sale price that could reasonably be made through public auction, the property tax division may offer the abandoned real property for less than the total amount of delinquent taxes, penalties, interest and costs due.

F. A sale properly made under the authority of and in accordance with the requirements of this section constitutes full payment of all delinquent taxes, penalties and interest that are a lien pursuant to Section 7-38-48 NMSA 1978 against the abandoned real property at the time of sale, and the sale extinguishes the lien.

G. Payment shall be made in full by the close of the public auction before an offer may be deemed accepted by the department. For abandoned real property sold via an online platform pursuant to Subsection D of this section, payment shall be made in full within one business day of the bid being accepted by the department before an offer may be deemed accepted by the department. Receipt of a bid from a buyer by the department is not acceptance of the bid by the department. The department shall notify the buyer whose bid is accepted by the department, and the one business day payment requirement begins at the time the buyer received notice of acceptance to the buyer whose bid was accepted by the department. Notice of acceptance of a bid sent to a buyer by the department may be sent via email. Failure of a buyer whose bid was accepted by the department and to whom notice was sent by the department to pay the full sales price within one business day invalidates the sale and the property can be reoffered for sale unless the buyer receives an extension to make payment from the department. Requests for time extensions and approvals of time extensions can be made via email.

H. The board of trustees of a community land grant-merced governed pursuant to the provisions of Chapter 49, Article 1 NMSA 1978, or by statutes specific to the named land grant-merced, shall be allowed to exercise the right of first offer to purchase the abandoned real property if:

(1) the abandoned real property offered for sale is situated within the boundaries of that land grant-merced as shown in the United States patent to the grant;

(2) the offer covers all taxes, penalties, interest and costs due on the abandoned real property unless the minimum sales price is reduced below total amounts owed pursuant to Subsection E of this section; and

(3) the land becomes part of the common lands of the land grant-merced.

I. In the event that there is a competing interest in the abandoned real property by prior landholders, such as land grant owners, pueblos or nontaxable entities, the secretary shall determine who has the prevailing right of first offer.

J. The time requirements of this section are subject to the provisions of Section 7-38-83 NMSA 1978 .

K. As used in this section, “ right of first offer ” means the department is obliged to undergo exclusive good faith negotiations with the rights holder before offering abandoned real property for sale to the public.