Mayor Duggan, Detroit Land Bank Authority, and community celebrate 88 Detroiters reclaiming their homes through Buy Back Program

• The Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA) is empowering Detroiters to achieve homeownership and strengthen neighborhoods through its innovative Buy Back program.

• The Buy Back program gives Detroit residents with a documented connection to a DLBA property an opportunity to achieve homeownership.

• Since its inception, the program has returned deeds to 1,363 residents.

• Through workshops, tax compliance support, and community engagement, the program ensures residents are equipped to succeed and retain homeownership long-term.

The Detroit Land Bank Authority (DLBA) hosted its annual Buy Back ceremony today, celebrating Detroiters who successfully completed the Buy Back program and reclaimed homes previously lost to tax foreclosure or deed fraud. This year, 88 residents were honored for their commitment to building stability for themselves and their families and are expected to receive deeds to their homes after meeting the program's requirements.

The 2025 celebration recognized participants who fulfilled every program requirement, paying property taxes in full, completing financial literacy counseling, and attending homeownership workshops, before earning their deeds. The event marked not only the return of properties but also the restoration of security, pride, and opportunity for Detroit families. Each new homeowner left with their deed in hand.

"This program is about more than property, it's about people and communities," said Tammy Daniels, CEO of the Detroit Land Bank Authority. "Every participant who successfully completes the Buy Back program represents a family investing in their neighborhood, building stability, and shaping the future of Detroit. This is a testament to the strength, dedication, and resilience of Detroiters."

Mayor Mike Duggan added, "The Buy Back program is helping Detroiters turn their homes into a foundation for generational stability and wealth building. The team at the Land Bank has done this more than 1,300 times, changing lives and strengthening neighborhoods."

Since its inception, the Buy Back program has helped 1,363 residents achieve compliance, providing resources and support to ensure residents not only reclaim their homes but are also equipped to maintain them successfully. Through tax workshops, counseling, financial literacy programs, and ongoing guidance, the DLBA ensures participants are prepared for long-term success.

"My Experience with the Detroit Land Bank Buy Back program was smooth and easy," said Alvin Jackson, a 2025 Buy Back participant. "Everyone was helpful and I'm proud to be a homeowner."

Buy Back Program Roadmap & Eligibility

The DLBA's Buy Back program offers a clear and supportive path to home ownership:

• Residency: Resident must occupy and show a documented connection to a DLBA-owned home lost to tax foreclosure.

• Home Inspection: Properties must pass an inspection to ensure they are structurally safe.

• Counseling: Residents must complete a free Home Preservation course and a financial literacy course with a DLBA nonprofit partner (Matrix Human Services, Wayne Metro, Central Detroit Christian, U-Snap Back, Miside, or Focus: HOPE).

• Pre-Closing Costs: Residents are required to pay $1,000 for Buy Back properties.

• Compliance Workshops: Residents are required to complete four compliance related workshops, covering topics such as money management, home improvement, foreclosure prevention, and debt reduction.

• Tax payments: Residents are required to save $1800 over a 12-month period to pay taxes.

• Exit: Upon meeting requirements, residents officially exit the program and receive the deed to their home.

The DLBA continues to be a driver of homeownership and neighborhood revitalization across Detroit. Earlier this year, the land bank celebrated over 12,000 previously vacant DLBA-owned homes rehabilitated and renovated, and more than 30,000 vacant lots sold and transformed into community gardens, parks, and other communal gathering spaces.

Looking ahead, the DLBA remains committed to expanding access to homeownership opportunities, fostering neighborhood revitalization, and supporting residents through comprehensive programs that combine land ownership, education, and community-driven development.

For more information on the Buy Back program, including eligibility and participation, visit buildingdetroit.org.