Ever thought about buying a property through the Detroit Land Bank Authority? It’s not for the weak, let me tell you!!!-but if you’re willing to put in the work, it can be a game-changer.

When we first started in 2020, we bought a house for just $1,500. Sounds wild, right? It was a great investment that has paid off ten times over. I think the Land Bank is a great starting point for beginners.

Most of these Land Bank properties need a complete gut job. I had never seen so much blight and dumping in my life-it was intimidating, to say the least. But we didn’t overthink it. We got a small team together (Our family and friends ), and we called in a plumber and an electrician we knew. We didn’t start with a ton of money-just a couple thousand bucks.

So, we did what we could ourselves:
✅ Cleaning up the yard (hello, overgrown jungle)
✅ Painting (LOTS of painting)-my least favorite thing to do.
✅ Installing floors
✅ Basically, anything that didn’t require a skilled trade!

And the Land Bank? They’re not holding your hand-but they do give you time. As long as you’re making progress, they’ll grant extensions. The key? Just get started and figure the rest out as you go. Don't overthink it, or you’ll never get started. When you win that first bid, you’ll be overjoyed and nervous all at the same time-but that’s the best part of it: taking the leap of faith.

We started the renovation on our smallest home (pictured above); it felt more manageable and affordable. Then, we moved on to our two-family home, which we were also able to buy for under $2,000 at the time. Yes, the market has changed, and finding a $2,000 home through the Land Bank is unlikely now, but there are still great properties on the site that are worth the investment.

If you find a property you’re interested in through the Land Bank, take the time to drive around the neighborhood. How does the block look? If you see developments happening or the area isn’t completely blighted, it’s worth exploring. Do your due diligence-attend real estate meetups, talk to people, and ask questions. You’d be surprised how many people at these events are eager to share information, and you never know who might be looking for a partner-an ambitious, go-getter ready to take things to the next level.

In the beginning, we were completely green, but we had ambition, were assertive, and asked questions-so investors gravitated toward us. Working with the Land Bank can be a great opportunity, especially if you have the right guidance to navigate the process.

Thinking about buying a Land Bank property but unsure where to start? Let’s talk! Book a call with me, and I’ll walk you through the process so you can make a confident and informed investment.