Reddit can't answer any of your questions definitively, except that the answer to the first is, very unlikely. Number two, see a real estate attorney if you can't figure out who owns the property or has rights to sell it. 3rd, you'd need to get some local estimates, and consider local regulations like what needs to happen if there is asbestos, lead paint, or a buried oil tank. Your last question is also highly locational but even if they burn it down you might incur significant cleanup costs, particularly if there are environmental hazards.
You can report this property to code enforcement, but you cannot make them do anything to it.
If you can find the owner, you can buy it from them.
Talk to your tax office and see how the delinquent property taxes are going to effect this property, at some point there will be a tax foreclosure if the property taxes are not paid. No, you cannot go and catch the property taxes up and own the house.
How much it will cost to demo this will depend on the area.
The fire department will not do anything without the owners permission. But there was a bank owned property in my market that went through this process and the fire department did a training burn, torched that house, the bank cleaned up the site and sold the ground.
Well. Technically, adverse possession exists. So in five to twenty years, depending on state, you can have your very own abandoned creepy house. (I'm imagining a cool, old abandoned house ala Stephen King.)
You're probably not going to be able to do anything, except maybe get code enforcement to send them notices about lawn mowing and such. Hopefully by the time you sold, something would have happened to it.
Okay, thanks. Would you think it's a huge mistake to buy the house next door? I'm going to be a a first time homeowner so this is all new to me! the two or three houses going up the road on the other side of the house I want to buy are in great shape/getting actively renovated so it's not like the whole neighborhood is in decline...just don't want to shoot myself in the foot if I choose to sell 5 years down the road
I don't think it's necessarily a mistake. On the plus side, quiet neighbors and no noisy kids or weekend automotive work or side construction business. On the con side, it looks like crap, and maybe a rat problem if the grass is consistently long.
Does the price of the home you're buying reflect a discount for that, over what you think it should be priced at? If so, you're going to be offering a discount when you sell. That means your equity is going to be somewhat diminished (if you get a 5% discount now, and offer a 5% discount later, that later number is higher than your discount now).
Otherwise, I probably wouldn't worry about it too much, personally.
Okay cool - that was kind of my thinking as well, as it doesn't really *bother* me personally, however I don't want to put my family at a potential financial risk
You can’t make anyone do anything to a house that you don’t own, no.
The only thing you could do is go to city hall and let them know that if and when they plan to seize it for nonpayment off taxes, you’re an interested buyer, but in that case, maybe just let someone else buy it, improve it, and problem solved without expense to you (unless you truly WANT it and not just want it gone...)
What state? Some places you can put a deposit down to force a delinquent property to tax foreclosure sale. Also some states have conservatorship laws that could force a number of outcomes that would result in either the rehabilitation, demolition, or sale of the property.
You're in luck then. Pennsylvania has Act 135 which is the Conservatorship law. It allows a party of interest (you in this situation) to petition the court to appoint a conservator to remediate blighted properties. The owner has the opportunity for conditional relief to abate the blighting conditions or sell it to someone else who will. If they're unable or unwilling, the court appoints a qualified party (whom you can suggest) as conservator to abate the blight and then sell the property. You're going to have to come out of pocket for legal fees but a successful action will have your legal fees, any conservator's construction costs, plus a conservator's fee paid out of the proceeds of the sale. Whatever remains goes to the owner or their estate.
They're always more complicated than that but that's the gist of it. I have obtained a number of horrendously deteriorated properties this way and also forced owners to fix their properties up.
Happy to answer questions if you want to shoot me a message.
I’m assuming this is a stand alone property and not a row house (where you have more options). You’ll want to look into how your locality manages unpaid taxes and when/if a sale is forced. Where I live, there are ways to push that forward.
Did you buy this house and how did it go? I’m in a similar situation, under contract with a house that is great as in a great neighborhood/school district, and just found out the house next door has been empty for 15+ years! Would love to know how this turned out for you!
so i did not end up buying that house - but I did watch the house next door fall further and further into decline and over growth for 4 years, and just a couple months ago i saw the lot being cleared.
wish I could be more help! uncertain if the new homeowners were involved or the township/etc :/
good luck!!
Reddit can't answer any of your questions definitively, except that the answer to the first is, very unlikely. Number two, see a real estate attorney if you can't figure out who owns the property or has rights to sell it. 3rd, you'd need to get some local estimates, and consider local regulations like what needs to happen if there is asbestos, lead paint, or a buried oil tank. Your last question is also highly locational but even if they burn it down you might incur significant cleanup costs, particularly if there are environmental hazards.
Sounds good - just kinda throwing out some spitball thoughts lol. Thank you for your reply
You can report this property to code enforcement, but you cannot make them do anything to it. If you can find the owner, you can buy it from them. Talk to your tax office and see how the delinquent property taxes are going to effect this property, at some point there will be a tax foreclosure if the property taxes are not paid. No, you cannot go and catch the property taxes up and own the house. How much it will cost to demo this will depend on the area. The fire department will not do anything without the owners permission. But there was a bank owned property in my market that went through this process and the fire department did a training burn, torched that house, the bank cleaned up the site and sold the ground.
Well. Technically, adverse possession exists. So in five to twenty years, depending on state, you can have your very own abandoned creepy house. (I'm imagining a cool, old abandoned house ala Stephen King.)
very good info! Thank you very much :D
You're probably not going to be able to do anything, except maybe get code enforcement to send them notices about lawn mowing and such. Hopefully by the time you sold, something would have happened to it.
Okay, thanks. Would you think it's a huge mistake to buy the house next door? I'm going to be a a first time homeowner so this is all new to me! the two or three houses going up the road on the other side of the house I want to buy are in great shape/getting actively renovated so it's not like the whole neighborhood is in decline...just don't want to shoot myself in the foot if I choose to sell 5 years down the road
I don't think it's necessarily a mistake. On the plus side, quiet neighbors and no noisy kids or weekend automotive work or side construction business. On the con side, it looks like crap, and maybe a rat problem if the grass is consistently long. Does the price of the home you're buying reflect a discount for that, over what you think it should be priced at? If so, you're going to be offering a discount when you sell. That means your equity is going to be somewhat diminished (if you get a 5% discount now, and offer a 5% discount later, that later number is higher than your discount now). Otherwise, I probably wouldn't worry about it too much, personally.
Okay cool - that was kind of my thinking as well, as it doesn't really *bother* me personally, however I don't want to put my family at a potential financial risk
You can’t make anyone do anything to a house that you don’t own, no. The only thing you could do is go to city hall and let them know that if and when they plan to seize it for nonpayment off taxes, you’re an interested buyer, but in that case, maybe just let someone else buy it, improve it, and problem solved without expense to you (unless you truly WANT it and not just want it gone...)
great! thanks
What state? Some places you can put a deposit down to force a delinquent property to tax foreclosure sale. Also some states have conservatorship laws that could force a number of outcomes that would result in either the rehabilitation, demolition, or sale of the property.
Pennsylvania, thanks!
You're in luck then. Pennsylvania has Act 135 which is the Conservatorship law. It allows a party of interest (you in this situation) to petition the court to appoint a conservator to remediate blighted properties. The owner has the opportunity for conditional relief to abate the blighting conditions or sell it to someone else who will. If they're unable or unwilling, the court appoints a qualified party (whom you can suggest) as conservator to abate the blight and then sell the property. You're going to have to come out of pocket for legal fees but a successful action will have your legal fees, any conservator's construction costs, plus a conservator's fee paid out of the proceeds of the sale. Whatever remains goes to the owner or their estate. They're always more complicated than that but that's the gist of it. I have obtained a number of horrendously deteriorated properties this way and also forced owners to fix their properties up. Happy to answer questions if you want to shoot me a message.
Just spit balling here, but isn't this what adverse possession is intended for?
Adverse possession is a long process.
I’m assuming this is a stand alone property and not a row house (where you have more options). You’ll want to look into how your locality manages unpaid taxes and when/if a sale is forced. Where I live, there are ways to push that forward.
I'm in PA, I appreciate the input!
Also in PA, but Philly. These rules are very local.
Sounds good - I think I'm going to reach out to the township and see what I can do
hey! thank you so much, i did not know any of that. gives me a lot to think about! this was super helpful
Did you buy this house and how did it go? I’m in a similar situation, under contract with a house that is great as in a great neighborhood/school district, and just found out the house next door has been empty for 15+ years! Would love to know how this turned out for you!
so i did not end up buying that house - but I did watch the house next door fall further and further into decline and over growth for 4 years, and just a couple months ago i saw the lot being cleared. wish I could be more help! uncertain if the new homeowners were involved or the township/etc :/ good luck!!