Buying a condemned house. Bad idea?

[peestandingup]

So if I were buying a nice plot of land with a condemned house on it, what would be my choices? Does it absolutely have to come down? And if so, does it have to be soon for some kind of legal reason?? How much would that cost to demolish it anyway??

[Dan B]

Condemned does not = tear down. It just means its not fit to live in, and you will need to get a certificate of occupancy to turn electricity back on the building.

[nvrenuf]

Our house was condemned. Not all condemned structures are unsound, ours was condemned thru the DART program but is crazy strong, some are condemned due to lots of code violations. Doesn't mean it cannot be brought into compliance. As long as you work with the city on what they consider to be a reasonable time-frame you shouldn't run into legal issues.

[strider]

In today's world, you need to go talk to code enforcement before you buy a condemned house.  The fines and the time frame to demo may very well keep on rolling even with a new buyer. Before, a new buyer could be given up to three years before fines and forced demo, but today, with the ED of SPAR Council's blessing, it may come down soon.

[iloveionia]

My first house was condemned and on the demolition list.  It was gutted completely with no plumbing, electrical, walls, floors, etc.  The active case on my house, with rolling fines, started over when I became the owner.  I still had to clear all the code violations, but the time started over.  In the closing process, the city was settled with by the previous owner monetarily. 

There is a definite "feel good" to saving a home.  If you can get it before the green sign of death goes up, please save the house.  If you are considering demolition (and good luck on that one,) selfishly, please just buy an empty lot. 

Additionally, you can go down to the city and get the report of code violations and special master hearings and see what you are up against.  PM me if you want more specifics. 

Good luck!

[sheclown]

The selling price should reflect the condemned status.  You should pay significantly less because of it -- all systems will need to be brought up to current code (unlike the house which is not condemned -- all systems are "grandfathered" in).  Additionally, the homeowner cannot pull her own permit on a condemned property. 

Personally, I would pay approximately 1/3 less on a house that was condemned versus one that wasn't. 

So, if the price reflects it, condemned houses are what the most ambitious buy in Springfield, the best bargains, and are the most in need of love

[mtraininjax]

Condemned also have lots of property taxes WHICH you as the new property owner would have to pay, so buyer beware. The costs for rewire, new systems, it makes no sense unless you can get the city to deal ,and oh yeah, we're 23rd in the country in foreclosures, so find a nice foreclosure and work with it, before its condemned. DART homes, not always, but most of the time occur in "challenged" parts of town, do you want to live there?

[lindab]

Here's my experience. Six years ago we bought a condemned property with two structures on it - both condemned and both DARTed. We bought them because they were unique buildings and there was some possibility of bringing them back. Even though the insides were completely trashed, the structure on one building was sound. The other was awful but we knew how to fix it.  We also had experience in restoration of a much older historic house so we had a clue what we were facing.

Do not kid yourself - restoration costs.  Once we bought the property and got a architectural rendering of what we planned for it, we posted that drawing on the property. As soon as we could we painted the main building ourselves, covering up the graffiti. Suddenly we started getting offers from investors to buy the property from us. It was like no one thought anything about the structures until fresh paint and design ideas were added.

Long story short, it cost us big time to restore the buildings but their contribution the neighborhood is huge. The value of the restored property is more than we spent despite the economy.  You have to have vision, guts and funds to restore condemned property. We did some of the work ourselves but a lot of it had to be done by professionals - engineers, architects, craftsmen, builders. Failures occur because people think, Oh it's so cheap, I can do the work myself, it's affordable.

[mtraininjax]

Six years ago

That was a much different real estate market, nowadays, investors with cash aren't jumping over each other for properties and banks are including foreclosures with appraisals.

[Overstreet]

One of my demo contractors is listed below. They can give you a value for the demo of the whole structure.

Burkhalter Wrecking
904) 354-7813

They also carry a store of salvaged architectural items from old houses that can be used in restoration projects. We got some doors there years ago when restoring a bed and breakfast in Fernandina.

[Dan B]

Perhaps he is looking to save the structure, and was just wanting to make sure the city wasnt going to force his hand.

Personally, I would rather not see any more buildings come down in Springfield.

[peestandingup]

Perhaps he is looking to save the structure, and was just wanting to make sure the city wasnt going to force his hand.

Personally, I would rather not see any more buildings come down in Springfield.

Yeah, I have all intensions of trying to save it. Or at the very least, save anything I can from it if it HAS to come down.

Bad news though. I called the city & asked about it. Apparently it was recommended by an agent to the head supervisor to demo the entire house, citing "structural damage" & the 2nd floor is collapsing, so sounds pretty severe. But the supervisor has to do a final inspection before giving the final go ahead to destroy it.

I think the city will prob end up eating it on this one, as it also has a few years of back taxes too. I wonder if they would work with me on a deal if I decided to take it off their hands??

[02roadking]

Got a location? Is it the one on Liberty?

[Debbie Thompson]

Some don't think the city inspectors know as much about old houses as they should.  Just an opinion based on the destruction we've seen in Springfield and questioned.  For example, one fabulous house on W 7th at Perry that the bulldozer could hardly get down.  If you are interested in this house, contact Tamara Baker of Baker Klein on Walnut near E 4th.  She and her partner are structural engineers who can go out and give you the lowdown on the structural viability of the house you are interested in.

[iloveionia]

Personally, I believe the city finds it MUCH easier to deal with a property in disrepair is there is NO property (house/building/structure) there.  Less hassle for them.  I think this is WRONG, and most would agree that securing a property and protecting it from the elements is a better option than ignoring it and allowing it to go into disrepair.  We've discussed before that the city could be doing this, but they don't. (Yes I understand and agree that it is the owners responsibility, but the city should intervene when the owner has abandoned the house.) I am going to boldly say EVERYTHING can be saved.  Money is the issue, or lack there of.  
Lindab makes this point and also stresses the financial end.  I've learned that it will at least cost double of what you think it will.  That, if you are lucky.  
And I ask too, got a location?