Pet Peaves

We recently a problem that we fear others will have to deal with as well; so it is our decision to warn others.  We purchased property in a place called Lake Timberline in Bonne Terre Missouri.  It was purchased with the intent of possibly building on the lots and relocating when we were getting closer to retirement.  We purchased the lots from a person, John Lee or "Heartland Hideaways", on EBay.  The transaction itself went very smoothly.  Unfortunately, after physically inspecting the area, we decided it was too far from Houston to use as a weekend get-away and we weren't sure it was where we wanted to live at through our senior years because the area has a lot of hills.  The problems started when we tried to sell the lots!  It turned out the lots were from a tax sale which was not disclosed in the sale to us.  The Lake Timberline Association did not clear their liens on the parcels until requested, there are other people listed on contract for deeds that we don't have a clue as to who they are, and building homes on the lots is not permitted because they are on tracts of land created for camping only!  Of course the "camping only" was never disclosed by Mr. Lee in his listing on EBay.  It will cost us much more to dispose of the lots than we paid for them!   Please be advised when you buy something and it states "do your Due Diligence", it really means "find out what they are hiding"!