>>5140896 (lb)
Not defending Mad Max in any way, but might have an explanation.
Years ago I knew a state politician that was into investment property. He had an "in" somewhere that we could get the list of tax auction properties before the list became public.
Normally the list comes out just prior to the auction so there isn't enough time to go check them out thoroughly. We would get the list and drive around and look it them and decide what they were worth.
Then sometimes we were the only people present for the auction and could buy a parcel of land for the tax lien amount that could be as low as $75. Some of them were not worth much more than that at the time, but in a few years they became more valuable and could be sold at a very nice profit. Seems just another way for the elite class to enrich themselves at other peoples expense.