Thursday, November 19, 2026 at 2:00 pm Central — ONLINE ONLY-Bidding Starts November 10th, 10:00 AM
Helena, Shelby County, AL
8± Acres – Cahaba River Frontage
Selling in 1 Tract
A genuine piece of the Cahaba — Alabama’s longest free-flowing river — is coming to auction in the heart of Helena, and riverfront like this almost never reaches the open market. This 8±-acre tract runs from Shelby County Highway 52 straight back to the water, tucked inside one of the Birmingham area’s most sought-after communities. Held for years by Christ Community Church, it has been surveyed and is offered in one tract — one owner, one address, one extraordinary stretch of river.
The Land
The ground falls gently from the road to the river, carrying mature hardwoods, rolling terrain, and real, walkable frontage on the Cahaba. The high ground near the road sits in FEMA Zone X — a natural, elevated building envelope — while the lower ground along the water lies in the Zone AE floodplain, exactly the kind of protected green buffer that keeps a river setting private, wooded, and unspoiled. An existing structure sits on the high ground near the road and conveys with the property, as-is, where-is. The bones of something special are already here: elevation to build on, water to look out over, and a kind of privacy you cannot manufacture — a custom home above the river, a family compound, or a quiet weekend retreat.
A Setting That Doesn’t Come Along Often
Frontage on the Cahaba is something buyers wait years for. Statewide, the river is known for its clear water, its rocky shoals, and the famous Cahaba lilies that bloom each spring — a living backdrop most people only visit and very few ever own. There is no asking price to negotiate against. On a defined sale date, the market itself sets the value of that rarity.
Location
The tract sits inside the City of Helena — top-rated schools, an easy pace, and quick access to everything the metro offers. Pelham and Alabaster are minutes away; downtown Birmingham is roughly 25 minutes north; and the airport, major medical centers, shopping, and the interstates are all within easy reach. Prime riverfront this close to Birmingham is a finite thing — no one is making more Cahaba frontage.
Offered as One Whole Tract
This 8±-acre riverfront tract sells in its entirety — one parcel, one buyer, the full river frontage in a single purchase. A recent survey lays the property out clearly for review. Walk it, complete your due diligence, and be ready on sale day: on October 15, the highest bid — subject to the owner’s confirmation — takes the whole thing.
Referral FormPROJECT MANAGER: Burt Lively – 205.222.9285 – [email protected]
OPEN HOUSE: Property open for inspection. Dempsey Representatives are always available for private showings; please contact our office for scheduling.
SALE SITE: Property to be SOLD Online Only.
BIDDING: This auction will be conducted in an Online-Only format, BEGINNING ON November 10th and ENDING ON Thursday, November 19th at 2:00 PM CT, allowing bidders to participate from anywhere with internet access. Contact our Office for exact details.
TERMS: 10% Buyer’s Premium to be charged on all purchases. 10% down with a balance due on or before 30 days from above date.
- The Property sells AS-IS, WHERE-IS, with no contingencies. Buyer to satisfy itself on survey, acreage, access, floodplain, permitted use, and condition.
- The sale is not subject to financing, appraisal, inspection, or due diligence periods.
- All independent inspections and investigations must be completed prior to bidding.
- Owner Confirmation Auction: Real Estate sells subject to seller confirmation.
CLOSING: ALL SALES TO CLOSE ON OR BEFORE 30 DAYS FROM SALE DATE—NO EXCEPTIONS.
BROKER PARTICIPATION: Dempsey Auction Co will pay any licensed Broker/Agent a referral commission for any registered client who successfully closes on the property. CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR PRECISE DETAILS.
For plats, brochures, or further sales information on this auction, call us by name at 800.DEMPSEY (800.336.7739).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
These “Terms and Conditions” supersede all other printed and oral statements and will be attached to and become a part of the Real Estate Sales Contract as Exhibit “A”, which will prevail over this document and any other agreement between the Buyer and Seller.
CONDITIONS OF SALE: Dempsey Auction Company (Auctioneer/Broker) has entered into a contract with (Seller), TO OFFER AT AUCTION, real estate (To be updated…)
All property, real and personal, is selling “AS IS, WHERE IS” and being conveyed by Seller as provided for below. It is offered for sale and sold “AS IS and WITH ALL FAULTS, IF ANY” without representation or warranty of any kind as to their condition; and any repairs, alterations, damage, cleanup, removal of debris, waste, personal property, etc., are the sole responsibility of the buyer. No warranties, either statutory or otherwise, expressed or implied, including those as to the fitness for a particular use or purpose, habitability, merchantability, or environmental condition including, but not limited to, any hazardous substances, hazardous waste, petroleum or petroleum by-products (collectively Hazardous Materials), concerning the property are given by the Auctioneer or Seller. Neither the Seller nor the Auction Company makes any representation concerning the property whatsoever. All bidders acknowledge and agree by their participation in the Auction that he/she has inspected the Property and is not relying on any warranty or representation of the Seller, Auctioneer, or any agent thereof. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that at closing there may be the existence of equipment, personal property , and/or scrap materials located upon or within the property and agrees to accept the same in AS IS condition.
We require all bidders to register and obtain a bid number in order to participate in the bidding process. All decisions of the Auctioneer will be final, including the increments of bidding, disputes among bidders, or any other issues that might arise before, during, or after the auction.
The Seller has the right, at their sole discretion, to add or withdraw all or any portion of the property before the auction’s opening announcement. This property is selling Subject to Owner Confirmation, and we reserve the right to hold ALL offers open until the following Monday.
CONVEYANCE: All property will be conveyed by a Limited Warranty Deed with title insurance available at the Purchaser’s expense.
RESERVATIONS & RESTRICTIONS: The real estate will be sold subject to any and all restrictions, public utilities, encroachments, zoning ordinances, easements, Property’s respective County regulations, protective covenants, any existing rights of way, and all other matters now of record or shown on the attached plat if applicable (To be updated…).
ONLINE PURCHASERS’ PAYMENT: At the close of the auction, successful bidders will be emailed the contract package to execute and return to Dempsey Auction Co. Successful bidders will deposit 10% of the Contract Sales Price as earnest money in the form of cashier’s check or bank wire transfer with Dempsey Auction Co within 24 hours of receipt of the contract package. The entirety of the remaining balance is due at closing as stipulated in the “Terms and Conditions”. Purchaser shall be responsible for all wire transfer fees. Successful high bidders not executing and returning their contract with earnest money deposit within 24 hours of receipt will be considered in default and subject to an Administrative Fee (as defined below). All Administrative Fees are non-refundable.
TECHNICAL SOFTWARE ISSUES: NEITHER THE COMPANY PROVIDING THE SOFTWARE NOR THE AUCTION COMPANY SHALL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A MISSED BID OR THE FAILURE OF THE SOFTWARE TO FUNCTION PROPERLY FOR ANY REASON. Dempsey Auction Company is providing online bidding as a service to Bidder. Bidder acknowledges and understands that this service may or may not function correctly the day of the auction. Under no circumstances shall Bidder have any kind of claim against Dempsey Auction Company or anyone else if the internet service fails to work correctly. Dempsey Auction Company will not be responsible for any missed bids from any source.
DEFAULT: In the event a winning bidder fails to submit the signed “Sales Contract” and deposit earnest money as provided in the pre-stipulated Terms and Conditions, the winning bidder will be charged an administrative fee of $2,500 on the credit card provided at auction registration. Additional default remedies are reserved by Dempsey Auction Co and the Sellers as provided in the Terms and Conditions and the Sales Contract.
PAYMENT: A 10% Buyer’s Premium on Real Estate will be added to the Bid Price on all real estate today to arrive at the final purchase price. The purchaser will be required to sign the Real Estate Sales Contract and pay a non-refundable earnest money deposit equal to 10% of the Contract Sales Price immediately following the Auction. This payment may be made with either a personal or company check. This deposit will be held in a non-interest-bearing escrow account under the control of Dempsey Auction Co. No disbursements will be made from this escrow account until closing or otherwise in accordance with this agreement. In the event the purchaser fails to close and pay his/her balance when due, the deposit may be retained by the Seller and Auctioneer as liquidated damages in addition to any other remedies available to the Seller and Auctioneer.
SURVEY: To be updated…
CLOSING: Closing shall take place within 30 days of auction, in accordance with the Real Estate Sales Contract, or on a date mutually agreed upon by the Seller and Purchaser(s) in writing. The closing firm will be (To be updated…)
CLOSING COSTS: The Seller will provide a Limited Warranty Deed at closing. If for some reason the Seller is unable to convey good and marketable title to the property, unless otherwise noted, the Purchaser(s) Earnest money deposit will be returned.
All other costs including, but not limited to, Attorney’s Closing Fees, Recording and Handling Fees, Deed Transfer Taxes, Title Search, Title Insurance, Loan Origination Fees, etc., will be at the Purchaser’s expense.
POSSESSION: Purchaser(s) will be granted possession of real estate at closing, on or before 30 days from acceptance.
TAXES: The 2025 Real Estate property taxes will be prorated to the date of closing. If any additional taxes are assessed resulting from the change of use by the purchaser, they will be the responsibility of the purchaser.
AGENCY: The Auctioneer is acting as agent for the seller only in this transaction and is to be paid a fee pursuant to a separate written agreement between seller and the Auctioneer. The Auctioneer is not acting as an agent for the purchaser in this transaction. Any third-party broker is not a sub-agent of the Auctioneer.
BUYER’S NOTE: Dempsey Auction Company and the Seller reserve the right to amend any terms or conditions of the auction by announcing such amendments prior to or during the auction. All information published, announced, or contained herein was derived from sources believed to be correct; however, it is not guaranteed by the Seller or the Auctioneer. The Auctioneer makes no warranty or guarantee as to the correctness and completeness of any information. Personal on-site inspection of the property is recommended. The failure of any bidder to inspect, or to be fully informed as to the condition of the property, will not constitute grounds for any claim or demand for adjustment or withdrawal of bid, offer, or earnest money after its opening tender. Any and all announcements made from the auction stand take precedence over all other verbal, printed, announced, and/or distributed information. Dempsey Auction Company is the “Agent of the Seller”, and our fiduciary duties of loyalty and faithfulness are owed to the Seller.
METHOD of SALE: DAC reserves the right to offer the property any way we see fit to obtain the seller the most money.
NOTE: This auction is being recorded by audio in its entirety for legal purposes.
I have received, read, understand, and agree to the information in these “Terms and Conditions” which will become a part of the sales contract and will hereafter be Exhibit “A”.