Detroit Launches eBay-Like Site for Buying Abandoned Homes

April 15, 2014— -- In the amount of time it took you to click on this story, you could be on your way to purchasing a house in Detroit.

The city launched a new website today allowing users to bid for homes on auction as if they were items on eBay.

Well, almost.

The houses have been acquired by the city after being left vacant and in disrepair by their owners and then forfeited through court procedures, according to the Detroit Free Press.

Bidders will be required to show the city signs of restoration and occupancy within a short time frame following the purchase in order to keep the homes -- ensuring that the houses help repopulate neighborhoods, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan said at a news conference announcing the program.

“We're laying another huge piece in place in Detroit’s strategy to fight blight,” Duggan said. “It is not enough to just demolish."

The city will auction off a home each day on the site www.buildingdetroit.org. Bidding will take place between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Buyers then have 60 or 90 days to complete the purchase, depending on the price.

All bids start at $1,000.