Greater Syracuse Land Bank

"They took my house that my mom paid $62,000 for her wouldn't let me work with them at all made over 10 family members and animals homeless and then tore the house down there was no working with them at all maybe they should let another couple hundred thousand ukrainians in this country I've been here my whole what they are doing to their own people is not right"

"I wish there was an option to give 0 stars, although even that would be too generous. The short version is that that Syracuse Land Bank is interested only in getting as much money as it can for itself with no care for the people it deceives to do so. A description that is probably very closely related to corrupt. A supposed non-profit, at every turn during the process that put the burden back on the person trying to invest into the community so that it could make the most profit. Your feeling that they want to work with you to try and make the city better could not be further from the truth. They have a bottom line in mind and will screw you over at any cost to get it. There is no oversight in this process when their actions, while maybe being legal, are nowhere near being right. Not only have their properties been used for some of our city's most horrific crimes, I have also talked with many other people in and out of the city who wanted to pursue Land Bank properties but could not because the numbers didn't add up. On paper they do a good job painting themselves in a good light but I am someone who they would consider a success while my experience could not be anything farther away. Success for them is not your experience or what's right but simply that they get them most they can out of you. Because of the hoops you have to jump through, your only option for lending is through the Home Headquarters organization. Designed to pigeon hole you into a specific outcome, basically a monopoly. They are in bed together. Do not expect any kind of help from the city of Syracuse staff to hold the Land Bank responsible. While admitting the policies in place were put into place for those trying to abuse the system, they offer no support to make things right. My family moved into the city to try and be part of m making it a better. place. It is going to cost me more then I could've ever imagined as a result of their greed. We will be under a weight of debt for years to make our forever home livable. I would be happy to answer any questions about this experience with you so you can be better prepared to avoid it at all costs. Please, avoid working with the Land Bank at all costs."

"Let’s be honest. The only people making money are, the land bank employees and the contractors. I tried to get a 10000 property but I had to come up with 60,000 dollars to make the renovations that they wanted. So, you cannot make the house your own because the demand that you fix it the way they want it and they want a contractor. None of this diy, sweat equity, no sir. So poor people are not buying these homes but already rich landlords. So, if you think this is a good non profit, a good help for the city or good people doing good, think again."

"Wondering if the theme song of the Greater Syracuse Land Bank might be "Don't Get Fooled Again", by the Who? Investors won't be walking away with an easy deal for nothing or allowed to do nothing. On the other hand, despite measurable process, the land bank will not be out of business due to no inventory in ten years by following their existing business processes."

"Not Suitable for Safe Living? Ron, how about you living in San Francisco, CA; L.A.; or Seattle? The Land Bank's goal seems to be ending the blight of abandoned homes, and putting more prospective owners into those homes. I guess "dangerous" is probably one person's opinion vs. another's. The cities I pointed out are all very expensive, but they're not without criminal elements. The most dangerous parts of Syracuse are nothing compared to Detroit, St. Louis, Chicago, or Richmond, CA. Wow! The prices for these homes are very reasonable, although some of the homes may need a rehabilitation mortgage to get them into "livable" condition before the new owner can move inside."