Transform This Home | Calhoun County Land Bank Authority

123 Manchester St. W, Battle Creek
26 Fremont St., Battle Creek
68/70 Frelinghuysen Ave., Battle Creek

Background

Calhoun County Land Bank Authority has residential properties for purchase under this program to rehabilitate and occupy. Program guidelines require the applicant to establish a rehabilitation plan and have resources to successfully complete rehabilitation to occupancy within 12 months. Upon graduating from the program, a property returns not only to the tax roll, but also to productive housing stock, becoming an asset to its neighborhood and community. This program is for those who want to purchase and restore a home for their primary residence, but is also open to investors who wish to transform a residence into a viable rental unit or to resell to an owner-occupied buyer. Preference will be given to primary residence applicants. You can view Transform This Home properties on our eProperty Plus site.

Download Application

Process

Pick a Property and Make an Offer

Contact the Land Bank to find your Transform This Home property and then:

Schedule a walk through with the realtor. Applicants are encouraged to bring professionals or others involved in the rehabilitation project to this inspection to develop their detailed rehab plan.
Make an offer to purchase property. Prices will be negotiated with realtors and the CCLBA. Once an agreed price and a signed purchase agreement are established, the process will move to Step 2.

Create a Plan, Budget, and Show Experience

Get the forms from the CCLBA realtor or www.calhounlandbank.org/transform-this-home. Submit all forms, rehab plan and supporting materials to the CCLBA realtor. All applications will be reviewed for the following criteria before their rehab plan will be evaluated:
- All property taxes must be paid and current on all properties located in the State of Michigan owned by the Applicant, or any legal entity that will have an ownership interest. Applicants that have forfeited properties due to delinquent taxes in the past five years are not eligible for this program.
- All property must be code compliant. All property owned by applicant, or any legal entity that will have an ownership interest within the State of Michigan, must be violation free. All code violations must be resolved before the CCLBA will consider an application. If building permits are open and in process of being fulfilled, an exception may be granted. Applicants with history of code violations are not eligible for this program.
Make a list of needed repairs based on the safety inspection. Safety and code items are a priority and must be part of this list.
Create a detailed rehab plan. Complete the timeline included in the application to show when you intend to complete the necessary repairs and resolve code issues. The project is complete when it passes Final Inspection and, where necessary, receives a Certificate of Occupancy. If more time is needed, request it — some projects may require more time to complete.
Consider the cost. The ability to afford the purchase of the property, the property taxes and bring the rehabilitation through to completion is key and must be considered by the applicant. Utilize the cost estimate checklist included with the application as a tool in determining the financial commitment. Applicants should contact the local assessor to get an estimate on future property tax responsibility. Be prepared to show the resources you have to meet the cost. If necessary, seek potential financing options and secure a pre-approval from the lending institution to include with your application materials.
Show a track record of positive outcomes for previous projects by providing a history of experience as a part of your application materials. Interested parties without a track record are still eligible to apply and will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Close the Deal

The approved Transform This Home application package will be incorporated into the purchase agreement. Documentation may periodically be requested to verify progress such as receipts for services, materials or permits, or other related items.
Schedule a closing where the applicant / buyer will pay the purchase offer amount, pro-rated taxes (when applicable), lender closing costs, title closing costs and title insurance.
Transfer of property is a two-fold arrangement. First the buyer, will receive a Warranty Deed (with clear title). Second, the Buyer will sign a Re-Conveyance Deed.
Upon receipt of the final inspection and/or Certificate of Occupancy to the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority the project is considered complete. At this time the Re-Conveyance Deed will be destroyed and full ownership and interest will be solely held by the buyer.
In the event that the buyer fails to meet the requirements of the program and contract (for example – misses project completion deadline or fails to pass a final inspection) the Land Bank will record the Re-Conveyance Deed as specified in the contract. Upon activation of the Re-Conveyance Deed, the property reverts to the Calhoun County Land Bank Authority and the buyer forfeits the physical property and improvements thereon as well as the purchase price, closing costs, and title insurance investment.

123 Manchester St. W, Battle Creek

26 Fremont St., Battle Creek

68/70 Frelinghuysen Ave., Battle Creek

Background

Process