Highly touted home auction proves silent

While some hoped to turn a much-publicized home auction in Palatine into a spectator sport Saturday, none actually stepped up to the plate.

Pamela Olander had turned herself into "The Pajama Lady" to advertise the auction on a big digital billboard along Route 53.

On Saturday, about 50 people toured the 3,800-square-foot house Hart Street, but no one registered for the auction. Olander wanted only serious contenders to be present for bidding.

Shailen Borkar of Roselle said he arrived as a serious contender, but had hoped to see a bidding process with other participants in order to help him learn the true value of the house. "This did surprise me," he said. "I expected there to be more people. This tells me a lot about the market conditions right now."

Olander said she plans another open house and auction next weekend.