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Rehabbed Homes Waiting For Buyers

SCRANTON — If you are looking for a home in the city of Scranton, two homes that were fixed up with federal dollars are on the market and one of them stil...
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SCRANTON -- If you are looking for a home in the city of Scranton, two homes that were fixed up with federal dollars are on the market and one of them still hasn't sold in more than a year.

Realtors and developers are having a hard time finding a buyer.

Realtor Wayne Evans walked us through a home in west Scranton, on the market for more than a year and still empty, waiting for the right family to move in.

"We had a lot of people interested, they just didn't qualify," Evans said.

This home is part of a city program meant to save homes from ending up rundown. Federal tax dollars go into turning the homes into a home that low-to-medium income families can afford.

"Essentially, you're getting a brand new home. Everything is new, the siding, the roof, the windows, the electrical," Jody Baden said.

Baden has overseen dozens and dozens of these projects with Lackawanna Neighbors Inc., the developer that's had to reduce the price on the North Garfield home twice now to around $85,000 and still no buyer.

"Most of the time we have a waiting list. They're asking 'when's your next house going to be done?'"

Not to mention the city's first-time home buyer program, which can match the down payment for someone looking for a home like the one on North Garfield Avenue, also covers most the closing costs, making a place like this a deal.

But a bleak financial outlook for the city of Scranton, according to realtors and developers, may not be helping the process along.

"Until the city gets all of the ducks in a row and stabilizes the financial situation, it's always going to be hanging over our heads," Evans added.

Plus, buyers have to meet certain income requirements and have good credit. Both Baden and Evans say that's a rare combination

Gina Rink lives next to a home on Palm Street fixed up with the same program. Rink hopes it doesn't spend nearly as long on the market as the home on North Garfield has -- 16 months and counting.

"We're looking to have some more great neighbors. We have wonderful neighbors now, we're looking to add to it," said Rink.

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