Detroit Suburb Now Hawking Vacant Lots for $1

A Detroit suburb is offering to sell city-owned vacant lots to adjacent property owners for $1. Warren Mayor Jim Fouts made the announcement in a news release yesterday, saying the suburb owns 136 lots from past tax-reverted purchases from Macomb County and 70 more will be available with this year's tax sale. But, Fouts notes, the buyers will also be responsible for closing costs that won't exceed $700 per lot. Additional property taxes will be around $150 annually.

The mayor calls it a "win-win" deal for Warren and the nearby property owners. He says the price is hard to beat, plus the city will no longer have to cut weeds or grass and shovel snow at the sites. (In happy Detroit news, the "Rosie the Riveter" factory has been saved from the wrecking ball.)