A condemned property can't be sold the traditional way. We buy condemned houses as-is for cash throughout South Jersey.
When a house is condemned, traditional retail sales aren't possible — lenders won't finance it, most buyers can't use it, and the township often has a tight timeline for either rehab or demolition. Sitting on a condemned property means ongoing tax bills, fines, and the risk of forced demolition at your expense. Danny Diamond Property Investments buys condemned houses throughout Gloucester, Camden, and Salem County. We take the property as-is — including the condemnation order — and handle whatever the municipality requires, whether that's rehab, demolition, or a lot-only sale. You get cash in 7 to 14 days and walk away clean.
What 'Condemned' Actually Means
Condemnation is a formal declaration by the municipality that a property is unsafe to occupy. In New Jersey, this typically comes after repeated inspections, open violations, structural failures, or emergency conditions like fire damage or prolonged vacancy. A condemned house gets posted with a red tag or a formal notice prohibiting occupancy. Depending on the township, you may have 30 to 90 days to either remediate the condemnation or face a demolition order. Unpaid fines and demolition costs get assessed against the property — meaning against you, as the owner.
Your Options for a Condemned Property
You have three realistic options. (1) Rehab: hire contractors to bring the house back into code compliance, pull permits, pass re-inspection, and list the house. This can take 6+ months and cost anywhere from $40,000 to $150,000+ depending on severity. (2) Demolish: pay the township or a private contractor to tear down the structure, then sell the empty lot. Demolition typically runs $10,000 to $30,000, plus asbestos and lead abatement if applicable. (3) Sell the condemned property as-is to a cash buyer. We take on the condemnation order and decide whether to rehab or demolish ourselves.
How We Buy Condemned Houses
Contact us as soon as you get the condemnation notice — timing matters. We'll pull the property records, coordinate an exterior inspection (often we can't go inside a condemned property), and present a cash offer within 12 hours. Our offer accounts for whatever the township requires — rehab, demolition, abatement — plus a margin. If you accept, we close in 7 to 14 days. The condemnation order, any open fines, and the responsibility for remediation all transfer to us at closing. You collect the cash and move on.
Types of Condemned Properties We Buy
We regularly close on: houses condemned after prolonged vacancy, fire-damaged condemned properties, homes with structural failures (foundation, roof collapse, floor joists), properties with severe code violations that escalated to condemnation, hoarder houses with health-code issues, properties with mold or contamination, and vacant lots where demolition has already occurred. No structure is too distressed for us to evaluate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the township stop the condemnation if I'm selling?
Usually not on their own — but once you have a signed purchase agreement with us, we can work with the township to hold off on demolition while we close. Speed matters; the sooner we're under contract, the more flexibility we typically have.
Do I owe the township the demolition cost if they tear it down?
Yes. Municipal demolition costs become a lien against the property, which becomes your personal debt if the lot sale doesn't cover them. Selling before demolition usually preserves more value for you.
What if the house has been vacant and stripped of copper, fixtures, and HVAC?
We buy stripped houses regularly. Our offer reflects the condition — we factor in what needs to be replaced or whether demolition makes more sense than rehab.
Can I sell if I'm behind on property taxes too?
Yes. Back taxes become liens that get paid out of closing proceeds. If the total liens exceed the property value, we'll work through the numbers with you honestly.