Tag: investment

Land banks in New York…it’s working


There are just about 4 million total residential homes in state of New York. So, with all of the upheaval in our real estate business today – the NAR settlement, changes to buyers agency compensation, high mortgage rates, increased competition, limited inventory…among all of the other “normal” business challenges in real estate – if one is looking for a unique real estate specialty to consider focusing their efforts upon, as we head into 2025, here is something to consider…

Thirteen years after New York’s Land Bank Law went into effect, there are still in excess of, somewhere in the neighborhood of, 40,000 vacant residential homes situated within municipalities throughout The Empire State.

Two general truths…

Truth “A”:  a land bank has procedures available to the land bank which enable the land bank to acquire vacant and abandoned properties. 

Truth “B”:  Developers look for opportunities to acquire, then, to redevelop, properties.

Once redeveloped, and thus, in turn, once transitioned from its former status as a “non-performing” property to a new status – “performing” property – that property can be sold. Thus, returning what once had been a neighborhood liability to the community…coupled to a handsome, new classification: performing property. A community asset. A property which has now been added onto the municipality’s property tax roll.

As such, performing properties create newly-found property tax revenue for municipalities. Additional property tax revenue – now coming into the coffers of municipalities – ease budgetary constraints municipalities face.

Through New York’s Land Bank Law, in The Empire State, a New York municipality possesses the ability to create their own land bank. By establishing a land bank, resources, direction, vision, personnel – coupled to leveraged capital – enable New York redevelopment to take place. In essence, New York land banks create passageways whereby, as this passageway is followed, adverse conditions attributed to non-performing properties which are nestled, often times, for far too, too long, within New York State tax districts…are lessened.


The New York Land Bank Law was signed by Governor Cuomo on July 29,2011. New York’s first land bank was established the following year.. in 2012. Today, there are over 30 land banks in operation in New York State.

Here are some regional New York land bank statistics to think about. These are local land bank statistics…taken from the area of New York State where Josh Allen plays quarterback. And, albeit, as a KC Chiefs fan, I must say, he plays QB pretty darn excellently up there too:

A. 230 properties acquired

B. 44 renovations completed

C. $2.4 million in assessed Values returned to communities

D. $14 million in leveraged investment

Should a portion of the blame for our housing shortage be placed upon sales managers?

In an environment which is accompanied by elevated interest rates, hopeful home buyers are challenged by housing affordability (or a lack thereof). But the real problem is not found in interest rates. The real problem is found in inflation. Housing inflation, to be more specific.

Housing inflation, linked to the fact that, we just don’t build (or rehab) enough homes. Every year. Year after year. Same problem. So, in real estate, is it wise to simply recruit more salespeople to follow the same business model? To attain the same outcome?

What is the real sales challenge to solve? Add more homes to the market. Every year. Year after year. Meet demand.

A noted portion of homes which could be/should be added to the market each year will come through, 1) rehabbing more homes, and 2) building more new homes.

An industrywide over-reliance which is placed upon selling move-in ready homes, coupled to a lack of prioritization – and/or specialization – in creating additional housing stock is arguably a “sales management C-minus,” or a “sales management D.”

Don’t blame Jerome Powell. Our housing challenge is, in many ways, about sales management deficiencies. A lack of leadership in sales. Which, in my opinion, functions as one primary contributor to our ongoing national housing challenge. Inefficient sales management in real estate makes Jerome Powell’s tough job even tougher.

Creating more inventory is the solution. Ignoring processes which will lead to the creation of more inventory further contributes to housing inflation. To fewer sales. To less commission. And, quite possibly, to the underutilization of capable real estate professionals.