Philadelphia Housing Authority will offer 400+ properties at auction

On November 16, the Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) will put more than 400 of its surplus vacant properties on the auction block, the Inquirer reports.

Max Spann will auction off the properties individually and in groups, and their website has a list of available properties. As you can see by the handy Google Map below, the properties being auctioned are located throughout the city, with large clusters across Lower North Philly. Some are vacant lots, others are rowhomes or multi-unit housing.

Click to view Philadelphia Housing Authority List in a larger map. | via Max Spann

In her Inquirer piece today, Jennifer Lin quotes PHA’s executive director Michael P. Kelly on the reasons behind the auction: “These properties are part of a large inventory not being used,” said Kelly. “We felt that an auction was the best way to put these homes and lots into the hands of those who can make productive use of them and return them to the city’s tax rolls.” Here’s hoping that some of the city’s quality, nonprofit housing developers are getting in line to take advantage of the opportunity to acquire and redevelop vacant properties in their neighborhoods.

PHA owns more than 3,000 blighted properties, a third of which the US Department of Housing and Urban Development gave PHA clearance to sell earlier this year. In addition to the auction, the Redevelopment Authority holds listings for about 1100 PHA surplus properties.

Just one question: How can buyers be sure the properties will be delivered with clean titles?

Information sessions about the auctions will be held on October 19 and November 2 at PHA’s Grays Ferry Center and on October 26 at PHA’s Warnock Center. For more information visit Max Spann’s auction page.

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Want more?

Philadelphia Housing Authority seeks takers for vacant properties [Inquirer; June 5, 2011]