After an hour of spirited bidding wars, the town stands potentially $349,000 richer as 10 properties were bought at a real estate auction in Town Hall on Thursday.

The purchase of these properties, which were taken by the town after the non-payment of taxes, results in a one-time influx of money to the town, the return to these properties to the tax rolls, and potentially removes the blight of dilapidated houses around town.

"It's a win for the town and the taxpayers," said Paul Zekos, head of the Zekos Group, Municipal Auction Strategies, who collaborated with town officials and the D'Ambrosio Brown law firm to host the auction. The town didn't pay the auctioneers upfront for the event, but the Zekos Group took 7 percent of each purchase price.

The 10 properties auctioned were 338 Plymouth Ave., 171 Hathaway St., 48 Charlotte Furnace Road, 4 Lucy St., 3 Michael Drive, 43 Hathaway St., 3 Main Ave., 302 Glen Charlie Road, 8 Mallard Road and the four lot group of 34, 36 Meadowlark Drive, and 17, 19 Mallard Road.

All 10 properties were sold, for prices ranging from $7,000 for 302 Glen Charlie Road all the way up to the top mark of $145,000 for 338 Plymouth Ave.

"It's a unique offering to have a home in that condition, relatively new and tenant-free," Zekos said of that location.

On the property is a 1.75-story single-family colonial-style house with three bathrooms, a deck and an unfinished basement. The total appraised value of the property was 191,000.

Town Administrator Derek Sullivan called the event a success. The town pulled in $430,000 from the auction but subtracting legal fees the net proceeds from the event -if every property closes- will be roughly $349,000.

"It's an immediate source of income, and we're getting these back on the tax rolls," Sullivan said.

Zekos said the group accomplished every goal it set out to accomplish and called it a "power- packed" auction.

There was no shortage of bids in the near-capacity Town Hall auditorium. Many people fought tooth and nail, losing out on a property by only $1,000 or $500 to the next closest bidder.

"It shows people are willing to invest in the community," Zekos said.