Buying Baltimore: Red flag or typical for vacant rowhouse sale?

[Ruth Gottuk]

Hi All,

I'm investigating rehabbing Baltimore City row homes as a career change.  I'm a mechanical engineer; I've done some home additions and built small houses as a hobby.  I'm looking to get into rehab/flipping as more of a career.

I have my eye on a property, which I thought was a straight forward FSBO, but it's getting weird. The house has a FSBO sign on the front, is vacant, was purchased in 2013 & a new roof was installed. According to the listing it's a full gut job. The listing contact turns out to be a development company who tells me they're based in D.C. and decided this property in Baltimore wasn't worth the commute, but it is FSBO. I asked for an appointment to see it and they told me to call back in 2 days. When I called back, they said they toured it, took pictures, & decided it was unsafe to show and the property needs to be purchased sight-unseen. I asked for the pictures, but they never sent them.

This property is not in a high-risk neighborhood, which is attractive to me as a newbie.  I'd like to specialize in upscale renos...and I love all aspects of this property.   However, they are asking $100,000 for a full-gut, sight-unseen property!  And, they don't seem very interested in entertaining offers.  I told the guy I was prepared to pay cash and then had to ask who to contact to make an offer, and the guy said, "Oh, you need to talk to me."  I'm thinking...But I am talking to you and you don't seem to care.

This property has not been declared vacant by Baltimore City, but they have a hot-line to call it in.  Special attention is paid to vacant properties in up & coming neighborhoods because they don't want such a property to drag the community back down, and they will force the owner to do something (sell or reno).  But, getting involved in government red-tape isn't enticing either.

Is this nonchalant attitude normal or is this a big red flag? The property has been on the MLS for almost a year.

Thanks for your advice!