>>509039664
>Are there enormous back taxes owed on these properties?
I can only speak for Detroit where that used to be a huge issue. A white guy took over as mayor and established the Detroit Land Bank. It seizes properties that have been abandoned, clear off the liens, and then sell them at a low cost, with the requirement that they be put back into livable condition. Pic related was turned into >>509039184 through this process. It's a top success story. Most of the time the houses are far more humble, usually turned into rentals.