cheap land

[sharqi]

Springfield's tax auction is in July. Abandoned lots and houses are auctioned off, starting at $600. Typically, in town lots are about 1/8 acre. There are a couple that are as big as 1/4 acre. Also, in my part of town (the poor, racially integrated part), there are blocks with several lots available, and some with houses. I saw a couple of bigger 1/4 acre sized lots with a house. The catalog is downloadable for $12 here: http://www.iltaxsale.com/new/index.php/county/Sangamon

Nearby, there is a fixer upper 5 bedroom plus on a double lot (about 1/4 acre) with chicken coop for $3500 cash. It's offered on Craigslist.

Our town has a very low cost of living. We bought a very livable house on 1/4 acre, and our mortgage payment is $200/month. Our town has its issues of course--racist and brutal police, narrow-minded bigots (the official dividing line into the ghetto has been renamed "Reconciliation Way"), and so on. But there are also a fair number of interesting people who seem to get it. Plus lots of good fresh local food. We invite y'all to join us. Time for the new consensus and all.

carey

[sharqi]

All right even more ridiculously cheap. Detroit is really the place to go.

Here's the long story: http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/06/17/detroi ... index.html

Here's the part I wanted you to read:
"In two weeks, the state [Michigan] will begin offering $25,000 to anyone who buys a home, as long as they pay 1 percent of the total cost and live in it. Landlords or speculators aren't eligible. Part of a $263 million grant given to Michigan and other states under 2008's Housing and Economic Recovery Act, the funds are intended to help buyers bring trashed properties up to code."

[jstorvick]

We had a huge Detroit discussion going at the start of the year:

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2

There is definitely a lot of opportunity for community revitalization, bioremediation, urban farming & community gardening, especially considering that you can buy a lot for like 500 bucks.

Our project never really got off the ground: My wife basically killed the idea of moving to Detroit (or at least spending some time there), no one really took the initiative in getting the group organized, not to mention that there are several groups and individuals actively doing this sort of thing there. But it remains an incredible opportunity for anyone with the means and availability to do these sorts of things in Detroit.

Jon

[sharqi]

I get the feeling Detroit is the new frontier, the place for moneyless and propertyless folks to find a place, and live a life somewhat resembling freedom. If I didn't own a house in Springfield, I'd really consider emigrating, especially with the 4 unit apartment building for less than $800. Unbelievable.

I am hopeful about Springfield's cheap land and tax auction. Someone offered to help us out with affording the empty lot that is just a few doors down. And another friend is looking at tax lots and housing in our neighborhood, looking to join in on the new consensus.

carey