Real estate investors and developers frequently pass on properties that have open code enforcement cases or recorded municipal code enforcement liens. I encourage interested buyers to take a closer look at the code violations and location of the property in question. Many sellers will agree to a lower sale price based on the outstanding violations and issues. And, many city code enforcement departments and building departments are willing to work with buyers of distressed properties to reduce the fine amounts and craft creative solutions to resolve the code issues. I have seen countless cities accommodate outside-the-box requests from buyers of these properties because the cities just want to eliminate the prior owner from the picture and get a fresh start with the property in question.
In my experience, these code enforcement issues seem daunting and not worth the trouble at first glance, but ultimately through analysis and creative negotiation end up being sources of great opportunity from a development perspective. More often than not, they present a chance to make lemonade out of lemons.
Matthew Scott is a Zoning Attorney in South Florida. With many years of experience, Matthew has acquired experience and expertise in land use and zoning laws. Matthew is passionate about zoning laws because it requires strategic thinking, creativity, and community engagement. Matthew enjoys working with a diverse community of professionals and improving the communities in which we live. For any further questions feel free to reach out to Matthew Scott.