Pennsylvania is the second-biggest land bank state in America by program count: 38 land banks, enabled by the state's 2012 land bank law, with 4,700+ properties listed right now across the five programs we track. It's also unusually varied — a priced Pittsburgh list, an application-driven Philadelphia pipeline, and a cluster of small-city programs that most buyers have never heard of.
The Pennsylvania landscape
All 38 are profiled in our directory. The ones with public inventory we track:
- Pittsburgh Land Bank — the biggest list: 3,000+ parcels, mostly vacant lots, with published prices on a growing subset (median around $4,000, lots from $100).
- Philadelphia Land Bank — 1,600+ parcels. Mostly unpriced in the feed: Philadelphia sells through applications judged on intended use, with priority tracks for side yards, gardens, and affordable housing.
- Tri-COG Land Bank — the Mon Valley boroughs southeast of Pittsburgh (McKeesport and neighbors), pooling small municipalities into one program.
- Johnstown Redevelopment Authority — small list, but it publishes county-assessed values, so you can see what the county thinks each parcel is worth before you offer.
- Erie County Land Bank — a handful of parcels at a time.
What's listed right now
Browse the live Pennsylvania map for current counts and locations.
The Pennsylvania buying process
The standard land bank playbook applies — full guide here — with these state specifics:
- Find the parcel on the map; the listing links to the selling program.
- Pittsburgh: priced parcels take offers with proof of funds; expect use and maintenance commitments on lots.
- Philadelphia: build the application before you fall in love with the parcel. Side yards adjacent to property you own are the smoothest path; anything bigger needs a credible plan — the land bank exists to route land to uses, not to flippers.
- Small programs (Tri-COG, Johnstown, Erie): talk to a human early. Small-staff land banks move on relationships and complete applications, and their best parcels never sit long.
Why buy from a land bank instead of one of Pennsylvania's tax sales? Title. Upset-sale and judicial-sale purchases can carry lien risk that land bank conveyances are designed to clear — the land bank vs. tax sale comparison walks through it. For rehab money, see financing a land bank home.
Where the value concentrates
Pittsburgh's lot inventory clusters in the same hillside neighborhoods where renovated comps swing block to block — the first-timer's guide covers the homework. The Mon Valley (Tri-COG territory) and Johnstown are deeper-value plays: very low entry prices, thinner exit markets. If you're comparing states, Ohio's county system is the closest cousin — Ohio guide here.
Start here
- Live Pennsylvania inventory map
- All 38 Pennsylvania land banks, profiled
- What is a land bank? if the model is new to you