CROWN POINT | Lake County officials were still counting their millions today as the 2007 tax sale entered its third day.

Auditor Peggy Holinga Katona said the county sold more than 400 properties and collected $12.4 million in successful bids Tuesday, the first day.

Holinga Katona said late Wednesday that SRI Inc., of Indianapolis, had gone through more than four-fifths of the more than 9,300 properties being auctioned.

She said they will finish the list and then give bidders a second chance to take thousands of unclaimed properties before concluding the auction.

Tuesday's total take includes $2.4 million in delinquent taxes and another $10 million in so-called overbid -- money bid in excess of any delinquent taxes.

She said delinquent property owners have at least one year to redeem and retain their property by paying the overdue taxes. If they fail to do so and lose the property, they still can receive the amount of overbid money, minus any other taxes owed the county.

Holinga Katona said the county lost out on bidding on property associated with a St. John medical clinic that resulted in a $4 million sale.

Holinga Katona said that sale had to be canceled because officials were unaware of an earlier court order requiring them to pull the clinic's property off the sale list.

Holinga Katona said the county did sell the Day's Inn motel in Merrillville for $2.4 million.

Last year's two-day tax sale resulted in the sale of more than 1,500 properties and revenue of about $30 million.