The Fight for $1 Homes

A HUD plan that allows municipalities to buy up foreclosed homes for just $1 is causing controversy in Wayne County, Michigan, where cities and counties are fighting over who is best suited to take over abandoned homes.

1 minute read

April 16, 2008, 10:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


"Wayne County's plan to buy more than 700 federally subsidized and foreclosed homes in Detroit and another 500 elsewhere in the county for $1 each has hit a snag."

"Competition."

"The cities where the homes -- mostly abandoned and in disrepair -- are say the county is trying to poach what belongs to the cities."

"Many of the cities had applied or were planning to request the $1 homes when they learned Wayne County was doing the same thing. Many had plans to rehabilitate the homes, sell them to the public or employees or demolish those in the worst shape."

"The homes -- which are among 11,000 foreclosed HUD homes in Michigan and Ohio -- are another sign of the nation's mortgage foreclosure crisis. The $1 program began in 2003 to help communities fight blight. City officials know that one deteriorating vacant home on a block can begin to bring property values down for entire neighborhoods."

"'We know what's best for our community, and we're very interested in partnering with the county on counseling programs to help residents save their homes,' said Riverview Mayor Tim Durand. 'But at the end of the day, we want the houses.'"

Tuesday, April 15, 2008 in The Detroit Free Press

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Abandoned industrial factory site.

Wisconsin Awarded $12 Million for Brownfield Redevelopment Amid Broader EPA Budget Cuts

The EPA provided the funding to Wisconsin for brownfield cleanups in cities like Milwaukee and Racine, even as broader agency budget cuts under the Trump administration raise concerns about future environmental protection capacity.

15 minutes ago - Urban Milwaukee

People riding bike son paved greenway in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Indianapolis Advances Plans to Expand and Connect Citywide Greenway Network

Indianapolis is developing a new Greenways Strategic Implementation Plan to expand, connect, and modernize its trail system, aiming for over 250 miles of greenways that support sustainability, mobility, and community well-being.

1 hour ago - Indianapolis Recorder

Regeneration of contaminated industrial land used for waste dumping, West Midlands, UK, 2006 .

EPA Awards $267 Million to Clean Up and Reuse Contaminated Sites

The EPA is investing the funds to clean up and redevelop contaminated sites nationwide, supporting economic growth, community revitalization, and environmental restoration.

May 18 - Environmental Protection