why a property is condemned in Scran'n (real estate, homes)

[condemnity]

Hi all,
I'm a newbie real estate investor and I'm trying to figure out why some properties are condemned, but it seems that every city office I call says "I don't know. What am I, a realtor?" To which I reply "WHAT?!? WHAT are you talking about?!?"

Does anyone know exactly what office I need to call to find out why a property was condemned??

thanks!
mike

[Dawne]

I have heard recently (on the news) that some properties are condemned because they're in such disrepair that they're unfixable, or that they were so filthy that it became a public health issue, or that they were full of animals and animal waste and fleas and therefore also a public health issue. Sometimes buildings are just condemned in the name of "progress".

I would think the city's zoning board or planning commission would have the answers you seek.

Good luck, and please let us know how you make out.

[openless]

yeah try the city zoning officer. many homes are condemned because theyre in bad shape and the owner wont fix it up year after year. also homes that are abandoned or have absentee landlords become havens for drug abusers. its very commun for drug used or drug dealers to meet in an abandoned home. also there are people who go in and illegally try to get gas or electric hookups. here in harrisburg there are always fires started avery year by homeless or criminals who were messing around in a home. some are just tax delinquent and the city takes them over after the owners dont pay taxes for som many years. some are torn down simply because its a good site for say a mall or new housing complex, etc. in the inner city id say a good 1% of all the homes are comdemed. you usually can tell they board it up and spraypain on it in white or orange letters and symbols. basically if theres a condemned property and its it the city, usually (though not always) its in a bad section of town.