Buying Land Through the Montgomery County, OH Land Bank

If you're looking at Montgomery County real estate, the realistic entry point usually isn't raw acreage -- it's the county's own Land Bank, a genuine, active program that recycles vacant lots and tax-foreclosed homes back into private ownership. Here's what it actually offers and how the acquisition process works.

This page covers what's specific to Montgomery County. For the general explanation, see the national guide.

What the Montgomery County Land Bank actually is

The Montgomery County Land Bank (130 W. Second St., Suite 1425, Dayton) is a real, currently operating county entity whose job is converting blighted, tax-foreclosed, and abandoned properties into productive, marketable real estate. It isn't a marketing label for ordinary MLS listings -- it specifically targets vacant lots and abandoned residential structures that have gone through tax foreclosure or otherwise fallen into disuse, properties that wouldn't typically move through a conventional real-estate transaction because of unclear title, unpaid taxes, or deferred maintenance.

The Land Bank runs (or has run, as of this research pass) at least two distinct acquisition paths relevant to a buyer: a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Renovation Program, now in its 14th year with more than 100 completed renovations, which makes specific vacant properties with renovation potential available to members of the public; and a Tax Foreclosure Acquisition Program, which lets qualified applicants acquire vacant lots and abandoned residential parcels more directly. Separately, the City of Dayton has partnered with the Land Bank on a market-rate rehabilitation initiative, directing $2.4 million in federal COVID-relief funds toward fixing up vacant homes for resale -- with a stated preference for properties carrying historical significance or distinctive architectural character, the kind of buildings the city has said help "make Dayton special."

Who this is realistically for

This is not a path to acquiring large rural acreage -- Montgomery County genuinely doesn't have much of that to offer, and this program is specifically about urban and inner-suburban vacant lots and structures. It's a realistic option for someone looking to acquire a specific vacant lot or a fixable house at a price point well below typical market value, in exchange for taking on renovation work and complying with the program's requirements (which have historically included things like commitment to complete renovation within a set timeframe and to occupy or productively use the property afterward, though exact current requirements should be confirmed directly).

It's also relevant to anyone doing due diligence on a Montgomery County parcel that appears to have gone through tax foreclosure: checking whether a specific address has passed through the Land Bank's inventory, or is currently listed there, is a reasonable step even if you're not planning to use the DIY program yourself, since it can reveal a property's foreclosure and vacancy history.

What to check before applying

Three concrete steps: (1) check the Land Bank's own site (mclandbank.com) directly for current program guidelines, application requirements, and available inventory -- program details, funding availability, and eligible property lists change over time, and this page does not attempt to describe the current application process in full; (2) if you're specifically interested in the DIY Renovation Program, ask directly about the renovation-completion timeline and any occupancy or resale requirements attached to a specific property, since these programs typically aren't a no-strings-attached purchase; and (3) for any property that's gone through tax foreclosure, have a title company or real-estate attorney confirm that the foreclosure process was completed correctly and that the title being conveyed is genuinely clear, since foreclosed properties can occasionally carry residual title complications even after passing through a land bank.

Also worth asking directly: whether a specific property or program is still active as of today. Land bank inventories turn over, funding rounds (like the $7 million in affordable-housing spending referenced in 2026 public-media reporting) get allocated and spent, and program terms can be updated -- so treat any figure or program description here as a starting point for a direct conversation with the Land Bank rather than a current, guaranteed offer.

Buying Land Through the Montgomery County Land Bank

What the Montgomery County Land Bank actually is

Who this is realistically for

What to check before applying

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