A fortnight after going under the hammer for $410,000, mystery still surrounds the sale of the derelict Albert Hotel in central Hastings.
The 1882 two-storey wooden building on the corner of Heretaunga St and Karamu Rd sold at mortgagee sale last month, but the new owners are keeping the deal under wraps.
Real estate agents and lawyers on both sides of the deal said they could not comment as the buyers, believed to be from Kaitaia, wanted to remain out of the media spotlight.
Even Hastings Mayor Lawrence Yule does not know what the future holds for the oldest building in his city.
"They won't talk to us either," he said. "We have been trying to find out and confirm something but we can't."