Buy from the Albany County Land Bank.

The county's nonprofit land bank sells vacant lots and houses through an application, not a bidding war. It looks at your plan and your money, not just your offer.

November 2026 list: 59 properties — 58 vacant lots and 1 house or building, from $600.

Applications due Tuesday, November 24 at 2:00 PM.

See this month's listHow to apply

MHE Gardens isn't part of the Land Bank. We read its public list and help buyers get their applications in.

The 3 lowest-priced right now

From the Land Bank's November 2026 For Sale List, read November 5. Always check the official list (opens in a new tab) before you apply.

56 more on this month's list

Addresses and parcel numbers for every property, with search by town and price, are free with an account.

  • — Colonie, Albany

    Vacant lot, 0.33 acres

    $1,000

  • — Buckingham Pond/Crestwood, Albany

    Vacant lot, 0.14 acres

    $1,000

  • — Colonie

    Vacant lot, 0.14 acres

    $1,000

  • — Colonie

    Vacant lot, 0.14 acres

    $1,000

  • — Buckingham Pond/Crestwood, Albany

    Vacant lot, 0.13 acres

    $1,000

  • — Buckingham Pond/Crestwood, Albany

    Vacant lot, 0.13 acres

    $1,000

  • — Buckingham Pond/Crestwood, Albany

    Vacant lot, 0.12 acres

    $1,000

  • — Buckingham Pond/Crestwood, Albany

    Vacant lot, 0.12 acres

    $1,000

…and 48 more.

See all 59 properties

A free account unlocks the whole list, plus every down payment program we track.

How to apply

From the Land Bank's Property Purchase Application and its website. Only complete applications get reviewed.

  1. Pick a property from this month's list

    A new list goes up on the first business day of each month. One property per application — the only exception is lots that touch each other.

  2. See it in person first

    The Land Bank requires it. For a building, sign the property viewing waiver first, then call (518) 407-0309 to book a showing or go with a realtor. Vacant lots you can visit on your own.

  3. Check your plan with the town or city

    Ask the local planning or codes office if your plan fits zoning and building codes. Money spent on drawings or permits before the Land Bank approves you is at your own risk.

  4. Gather your documents

    The signed pages of the application, a budget and timeline (Form A), photo ID, your latest tax return, proof of funds and a $50 fee for each applicant. The full list is below.

  5. Send it in by the deadline

    Email one clear PDF to applications@albanycountylandbank.org (no phone photos), mail the original, or drop it off. It must arrive by 2:00 PM on the last Tuesday of the month. Call to confirm they got it.

  6. Wait for the Board's decision

    A committee reviews offers, then the Board of Directors decides at its meeting on the third Tuesday of the month. You hear back by that Friday. They weigh your experience, your money, your offer, your plan and what it does for the neighborhood.

  7. Close

    If you're picked, a Land Bank attorney contacts you to start closing. Properties are sold as is.

  8. Finish the work within a year

    An enforcement mortgage holds you to your plan. Expect check-ins at 30 days (permits and insurance), inspections around 90, 210 and 300 days, and a final inspection before it's released.

What to send

  • Signed purchaser certification, terms and conditions, enforcement mortgage and viewing pages (pages 4–7)
  • Background and credit check authorization (this page asks for your Social Security number — send it only to the Land Bank)
  • Form A: project budget and timeline (rehab can take at most 12 months)
  • Copy of photo ID for every applicant
  • Your most recent tax return
  • Proof of funds: bank statement, loan pre-qualification letter, letter of credit or funding commitment
  • Processing fee: $50 per applicant, by check or money order to Albany County Land Bank Corporation

Sometimes also

  • Letters of support from neighbors or community members
  • Local property manager agreement (landlords who don't live in Albany County or a county next to it)
  • Form B: rental pro forma, if you'll rent it out
  • LLC or nonprofit papers and a list of all members or partners

Send one clear PDF to applications@albanycountylandbank.org, mail the original to 111 Washington Avenue, Suite 601, Albany, NY 12210, or drop it off monday to friday, 9:30 am to 4:30 pm. They don't accept photos of the application.

What it costs

  • $50 processing fee per applicant when you apply
  • Closing costs, plus a 3% asset management fee paid to the Land Bank
  • Any back taxes or water bills still owed on the property
  • Your repairs or building costs — keep extra money set aside for surprises

Fix these first

Your application can't move forward while you have:

  • Being behind on property taxes or a mortgage
  • Open code violations, unpaid property or school taxes, liens or housing judgments
  • An unresolved foreclosure

Rules that can come with it

  • If you said you'll live there, you may have to live there for 5 years.
  • You may need the Land Bank's OK to sell within 5 years.
  • Rentals on properties the Land Bank put grant money into may have to serve renters at or under 100% of area median income for 10 years.
  • A side lot you buy may have to be merged with the property you already own next to it.

Official forms and links

Questions for the Land Bank itself: (518) 407-0309, info@albanycountylandbank.org.

Want a hand with your application?

We help you pick a property, plan the work and the budget, and get everything in before the deadline. For sales of $10,000 or more, the Land Bank may pay $500 at closing to the buyer's licensed real estate agent. Ruth Dorval of Open Doors LLC can be that agent.

Get application helpTalk with Ruth