Repository list in Pennsylvania

[Jason Donald]

Has anyone purchased a property from the repository list that had a house on it although the parcel info on the repository list still had it as undeveloped land?Does anyone know any of the details with a situation like this or have anything they could share?

[David Krulac]

@Jason Donald @Steve Babiak

I've never seen that situation exactly.  I have seen where there is confusion of the lot lines and seemingly there is a house, but it is actually on the neighboring lot.

It could conceivably happen, maybe somebody built a house without a building permit? or maybe an error in assessment not picking up the house being built.

First thing you should do is a complete title search.  How old do you think the house is?  Search at least to that age.  Secondly see if that person, the owner of the property has/had any other property in the county, simple assessment search.  Thirdly check assessment records maybe the house was supposed to be removed or torn down and never was.  Fourthly, another possibility is that the house is assigned another parcel number, like the owner of that house maybe renting the land and the house and land are two separate parcels.  Is the house occupied talk to the resident/owner.  Fifthly contact the owner of the repository property and ask what is the background story.  We've owned land where we don't own the improvements that are on the land and we collect land rent from the home owner.

As I have mentioned before:

1.  Repository properties are the "dogs of the dogs" according to one Director of Tax Claim Bureau.

2.  Tax Sales are the most hazardous way to buy real estate, no sellers disclosure, no home inspections, no interior inspections and filled with title issues, and physical problems often intentionally abandoned by the owners because they can't sell the property.

3.  Good luck, you need it and be very careful.