Desperate to sell dilapidated, foreclosed homes, as well as to lure in local governments willing to build affordable housing, the Department of Housing and Urban Development is offering those properties for just a dollar.
"The dollar home program predates the housing meltdown, but it has become more active because of escalating foreclosures.
Governments nationwide used to buy about 100 such homes a year, according to HUD. This year that number has more than tripled in 10 months.
Still, 100-cent homes remain scarce. In Atlanta just two were on the market last month.
HUD decides a buck is better than nothing after waiting at least 180 days. The government has owned the Sims Street house since July 2007, courtesy of Wells Fargo."
"So what does a buck buy? On Sims Street, a 1920 vinyl-clad house with three bedrooms and 1 1/2 baths.
It doesn't buy air conditioning, a stove, a kitchen sink, plumbing or wiring. Those were all stolen.
Vandals carved up the walls to grab some of the plunder.
Maybe even more surprising than the extraordinarily low price is the number of dollar homes that have sold in Georgia -- just one since December 2006.
"You can get it for $1 but if you've got to put $90,000 into it, it's not really affordable," said Hawthorne Welcher, Augusta's assistant director of housing."
FULL STORY: For right buyer, HUD a $1 store
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Atlanta, Dallas Area to Launch Robotaxi Rideshare Fleets
Lyft and Uber will begin including autonomous vehicles in their networks in Atlanta and Arlington, Texas starting later this year.
New Atlanta Law Requires ‘Cool Roofs’
Painting roofs with reflective coatings can significantly reduce indoor temperatures and improve energy efficiency, sometimes at a lower cost than traditional roof treatments.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Chicago’s Ghost Rails
Just beneath the surface of the modern city lie the remnants of its expansive early 20th-century streetcar system.
Amtrak Cutting Jobs, Funding to High-Speed Rail
The agency plans to cut 10 percent of its workforce and has confirmed it will not fund new high-speed rail projects.
Ohio Forces Data Centers to Prepay for Power
Utilities are calling on states to hold data center operators responsible for new energy demands to prevent leaving consumers on the hook for their bills.
MARTA CEO Steps Down Amid Citizenship Concerns
MARTA’s board announced Thursday that its chief, who is from Canada, is resigning due to questions about his immigration status.
Silicon Valley ‘Bike Superhighway’ Awarded $14M State Grant
A Caltrans grant brings the 10-mile Central Bikeway project connecting Santa Clara and East San Jose closer to fruition.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
City of Fort Worth
Mpact (founded as Rail~Volution)
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
City of Portland
City of Laramie