Cheap houses, real process.
Guides and research on buying from land banks — the government-run sellers of the cheapest houses in America. No courses, no gurus: how it actually works, backed by the live inventory we index.
Buying From the Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA)
Auction, Own It Now, Rehabbed & Ready, and side lots — how Detroit's land bank programs differ, what they cost, and the compliance rules that catch buyers.
The Cities With the Most Homes Under $10,000 (2026 Data)
We analyzed 31,328 land bank listings priced under $10,000 across 22 US markets. Cleveland, Memphis, and Kansas City lead — here's the full ranking.
Do Land Bank Homes Come With Clear Title?
Usually yes — clearing tax liens is the land bank's core job, and it's the big advantage over tax sales. What 'clear' actually covers, and what to verify.
How to Buy Land Bank Property in Illinois (2026 Guide)
Illinois land banks list 2,100+ properties, from Cook County rehab houses (median ~$49,000) to $1-class Peoria city lots. How each program works.
How to Buy Land Bank Property in Missouri (2026 Guide)
Missouri runs America's oldest land bank. 10,000+ properties are listed between St. Louis and Kansas City right now — here's how each city's process works.
How to Buy Land Bank Property in Pennsylvania (2026)
Pennsylvania has 38 land banks, from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh to the Mon Valley. 4,700+ properties are listed now — here's how each program works.
How to Buy Land Bank Property in Tennessee (2026 Guide)
Memphis is home to one of America's largest land bank inventories — 12,000+ Shelby County properties, median asking price around $2,500. Here's how buying works.
The Cheapest Houses in America: Where They Are, With Data (2026)
We index 82,000+ land bank properties. Median asking price: $3,136. Over 2,200 actual houses are listed under $10k right now — here's exactly where.
Financing a Land Bank Home: Cash, 203(k), and Renovation Loans
Banks won't mortgage a $6,000 house — but that doesn't mean cash-only. How land bank buyers actually pay: renovation loans, 203(k), local programs, and more.
Government-Owned Homes: Every Program Explained
HUD Homes, USDA resales, VA REO, land banks, county surplus, GSA auctions — every way the government sells houses, compared honestly, with where to find each.
How to Buy a Cheap House With No Real Estate Experience
You don't need a license, an LLC, or a course to buy a $5,000 land bank house. A first-timer's guide to the process, the budget, and the mistakes to skip.
How to Buy Land Bank Property in Michigan (2026 Guide)
Michigan invented the modern land bank. 20,000+ properties listed across 10 tracked markets — Detroit, Flint/Genesee, and beyond. How the Michigan process works.
How to Buy Land Bank Property in New York State (2026 Guide)
30 land banks operate across upstate New York — Syracuse, Albany, Buffalo, Rochester. 3,600+ listed properties from $1. How the New York process works.
How to Buy Land Bank Property in Ohio (2026 Guide)
Ohio has 71 land banks — more than any state — and 22,000+ properties listed right now, median asking price around $3,200. How the Ohio process works, county by county.
Abandoned Houses for Sale: How to Actually Find and Buy One
Most 'abandoned houses' are owned by someone — often a land bank selling for $1,000–$20,000. Here's where the real inventory is and how to buy it legally.
$1 Houses: What's Real, What's Hype, and Where They Actually Exist
Yes, $1 houses exist — through land banks and city programs with strict rehab rules. Here's what's real, what the catch is, and where sub-$5k homes are today.
How to Buy a House From a Land Bank: The Complete 2026 Guide
Step-by-step guide to buying a land bank home: finding real inventory, application requirements, proof of funds, renovation commitments, and closing.
Land Bank vs. Tax Sale vs. Foreclosure Auction: Which Is Right for You?
Three ways to buy distressed property, three very different risk profiles. How land banks, tax sales, and foreclosure auctions compare on price, title, and risk.
What Is a Land Bank? (And How to Buy a House From One)
Land banks are public agencies that sell vacant homes and lots at deep discounts — inventory that never reaches Zillow. Here's how they work and how to buy.