Q. How can I find out if the Land Bank owns a certain property?
Most of the properties owned by the Land Bank are located at our website www.thelandbank.org, under Search Properties. For information on properties located in the City of Flint, your can also access the City of Flint website at www.cityofflint.com and click on “property tax lookup.” Search for ownership status via street name, street address, parcel identification number, or owner name. If the owner of a property is listed as “Genesee County LRC Inc” or “Genesee County Treasurer” then it is owned by or under the management of the Land Bank. For ownership information on properties outside the City of
Q. How can I find a home to purchase from the Land Bank?
All of the properties available for purchase can be found at www.thelandbank.org by clicking on Search Properties. There are many different ways to narrow your search results, including parcel number, street name, township/city, property class, etc. When conducting your search, use of the “property class” tool can help to narrow your search to “Residential with Structure,” Residential without Structure,” etc. Applications can also be found at our website under Applications/Forms.
Q. Is every Land Bank property available for purchase?
No. The Land Bank will sometimes choose to hold onto property that has potential to be redeveloped; either because it is contiguous to other Land Bank owned property or it is in an area where other development is occurring. The Land Bank generally holds property that is located in one of its Strategic Reinvestment Areas to assure that the property is used in a manner that is consistent with any existing plans developed by the community.
Q. How can I purchase a Land Bank owned property?
Turn in application of interest for the property. Your application will then need to be processed by our sales team. Please allow 90 days for your application to be processed.
Q. How does the Land Bank determine the price of its property?
The Land Bank’s Transaction Supervisor determines the sales price of each property. The condition of the property usually is a starting point to determine price. Other factors the Transaction Supervisor uses to determine price include State Equalized Value, what was owed on the taxes, and direct costs the Land Bank has incurred associate with the property.
Q. Does the Land Bank sell property on land contract?
The Land Bank does offer a land contract option. Our land contracts hold 7% interest. The monthly payment will depend on the sales price, along with other factors. After turning in an application of interest for a property with a structure, and viewing the property, you can make either a cash or land contract offer for the property. The Transaction Supervisor will then review the offer; they can accept it, reject it, or decide to counter your offer. See www.thelandbank.org/residential.asp
Q. How can I purchase the vacant lot next door to my house?
See www.thelandbank.org/sidelot.asp
Q. How does the Land Bank acquire properties?
The Land Bank acquires properties through the tax foreclosure process.
All tax foreclosed properties that go unsold through public auction and are not accepted by the state or local unit of government are transferred from the County Treasurer to the Land Bank at the end of each calendar year. Properties with structures that are in need of demolition or significant repair, or located within target areas, are often bundled and sold in mass at the auction to ensure that the properties will not be purchased by absentee property owners. Once properties are under the ownership of the Land Bank, they can be sold on a case by case basis. See www.thelandbank.org/foreclosure.asp
Q. When will the abandoned house on my block be demolished?
The criteria the Land Bank uses in selecting a property for demolition includes:
- Structures that create an immediate danger to neighbors and the community at large;
- Structures that are dilapidated and/or obsolete;
- Structures that are located within strategic development areas of the Land Bank and its partners; and
- Removing dilapidated structures that are the only blighted structure(s) on the block that will help to stabilize neighborhoods.
Once a property is targeted for demolition, the Land Bank will bid out contracts to prepare the properties for demolition in accordance with federal environmental clean-up standards. Once through the bidding process, structures will likely be demolished within two months. There maybe a delay in the demolition of structures on the demolition list due to the fact that our list is constantly changing. When emergency demolitions are added to the demolition list we have to change our priority to address those emergency demolitions. Demolitions are selected subject to funding being available. To find out the demolition status of a Land Bank owned structures please contact us.
Q. Can I request that a Land Bank owned structure be placed on the emergency demolition list?
A Land Bank owned structure can be placed on the emergency demolition list if the structure creates an immediate danger to neighbors and the community at large. Some examples of an emergency demolition are: the structure is burned or significantly dilapidated, or there are structural damages, like cracked foundations. The Land Bank partners with the local units of government to identify those structures. The Land Bank must be in accordance with federal and state requirements before a structure can be demolished. If you want to know if a blighted structure owned by the Land Bank is an emergency demolition you can contact us. If the structure does not meet the requirements of an emergency demolition you can contact your city or township building inspector to have the structure evaluated for emergency demolition.
Q. How does the Land Bank clean and maintain all of its properties?
The Land Bank aims to secure all abandoned structures, clear vacant lots of debris, brush, and trash, and maintain lawns. The Land Bank is currently partnering with the City of Flint to maintain all properties inside the city in need of maintenance.
Q. How can a local organization, association or block group clean, garden and/or maintain a Land Bank owned property?
Through the Clean and Green Program, the Land Bank can enter into an agreement with a neighborhood association or block club for cleaning, gardening and maintaining vacant lots that are located within the group’s target area. See www.thelandbank.org/clean_green_prog.asp
Through the “Lots Available” program, the Land Bank can enter into an agreement with a neighbor of a vacant lot for cleaning, gardening and maintaining vacant lots that are located near their home. See www.thelandbank.org/lotsavailable.asp
