Vacant Housing
10 articles
Tax Foreclosure Auctions — A Neighborhood Acquisition Playbook
Understanding how to navigate tax foreclosure auctions can be a powerful tool for neighborhood revitalization. These auctions offer opportunities to acquire vacant or abandoned properti…
Sweat-Equity Homeownership Models That Work
Building and owning a home often feels out of reach for many, especially in communities struggling with vacant properties and economic stagnation. But a few proven models turn sweat equ…
Rehabbing Vacant Homes With Funding That's Already in Your Community
Vacant homes are more than just eyesores; they’re often drains on community resources and missed opportunities for affordable housing. The good news is that many communities already hav…
LIHTC for Small Nonprofits Without a Developer
You're a small nonprofit with big dreams of turning vacant lots into affordable housing using the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). But without a developer on staff, LIHTC can feel…
Lien Negotiation Basics for Community Rehab Projects
Vacant housing often comes with a tangled web of outstanding debt in the form of liens. These legal claims against a property can significantly complicate rehabilitation efforts, making…
Land Banks: Buying Vacant Properties for $1
Staring at that boarded-up house on your block, wondering when it will finally get fixed up? Land banks might be your answer. These governmental or quasi-governmental entities are desig…
Insurance and Bonding for Volunteer Rehab Crews
Bringing vacant houses back to life is rewarding, but it comes with real risks. Volunteers face potential injuries, and construction work, even cosmetic, can damage property. Understand…
HOME Investment Partnerships for First-Time Rehabbers
Thinking about tacking that dilapidated house on the corner? Or maybe you've spotted an abandoned building that could be a new community hub. Rehabilitating vacant properties isn't just…
Community Land Trusts: Setting One Up in 18 Months
Thinking about how to bring affordable housing to your community, keep it that way for generations, and build resident power? Community Land Trusts (CLTs) offer a solution by taking lan…
CDBG Funds: How Your Neighborhood Group Can Actually Access Them
Getting your hands on federal money to fix up vacant properties can feel like a game rigged against small community groups. But the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program is s…