Dollar House Program Overview

Currently not accepting applications.  Once applications are made available they will be posted on this website.

To address the negative effects of vacant and abandoned properties the City of South Bend established the Dollar House Program.  Working in partnership with neighborhood-based Community Development Corporations the City acquires, completes selective repairs, and conveys the property to a lottery winner for $1.00.  The new owner will be provided a list of repairs, with bid specifications, that are required to be completed within a year of ownership.  The bid specifications are designed to ensure that the renovated home will be an asset to the neighborhood and community.

Some of the repair items may be completed through sweat equity, while other items -like plumbing and electrical- will have to be done by a licensed professional.  Or, if the new owner chooses to do so, all of the work may be contracted out.  In order to ensure that the new owner has the resources to carry out the needed repairs, they must provide a Pre-approval Loan Letter or verification of cash resources equal to or greater than the estimated renovation cost for the properties they are applying for through the lottery.   

For more detailed information about this program download the Program Guidelines.*

Available Properties

The following properties will be made available through the Dollar House Program. 

Please note that any initial selective repairs to be completed by the community development corporations, prior to the lottery, are not reflected in the following photos.

1201 Campeau
Partnering agency Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization

Estimated Rehabilitation Cost: $83,105.00

1313 Bissell
Partnering agency Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization

Estimated Rehabilitation Cost: $88,055.00

701 E. Pennsylvania
Wegner Homestead
Historic Landmark
Partnering agency Northeast Neighborhood Revitalization Organization


Estimated Rehabilitation Cost: $92,070

923 W. Colfax
Partnering agency South Bend Heritage Foundation


Estimated Rehabilitation Cost: $99,055

510 Lindsey
Partnering agency Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc.

Estimated Rehabilitation Cost:  $54,512

718 Van Buren
Partnering agency Near Northwest Neighborhood, Inc.

Estimated Rehabilitation Cost:  $64,359

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Community Development
224 W. Jefferson Boulevard • Suite 100
South Bend, IN  46601
574.235.9475 • Fax: 574.235.9697