Oregon situation guide · Updated November 2026

Wholesaling Condemned Houses in Oregon

Wholesaling condemned houses in Oregon means contracting a home a city or county has declared unsafe and assigning that contract to a buyer who can repair or remove it. These deals carry high risk and real discounts. Oregon requires residential wholesalers to register, disclose in writing and allow a cancellation window, so you must get the paperwork right. Read our condemned house guide before you bid.

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The short answer

Can you assign a contract on a condemned house in Oregon?

Generally yes, if you follow the Oregon wholesaling rules and disclose the condemnation to your buyer. Always confirm what the order actually allows.

A condemnation order can mean different things. It may bar occupancy, require repairs by a date, or order demolition. Get the order itself and ask the building department what must happen next. Our certificate of occupancy guide explains why that matters.

Oregon’s wholesaler rules still apply. You must give the written disclosure to the seller and buyer before the contract, and the three-business-day cancellation right cannot be waived. Because a condemned house is hard to value, state the order in the contract and review it with our legal overview.

Condemned Houses in Oregon at a glance

Wholesaling law	HB 4058, effective July 1, 2025
Order source	City or county building department
Likely limits	No occupancy until repaired or cleared
Disclosure	Written, before contract and in ads
Cancellation	Three business days, not waivable
Insurance	Vacant and unsafe homes can be hard to insure

The opportunity

Why condemned houses turn up in Central Oregon

Bend and the rest of Deschutes County have high land values. A worn house on a good lot may be worth more as a rebuild than as a home. Fire, neglect, or deferred repairs can leave an old structure unsafe, and an order may follow. Owners who cannot fund the work may sell cheaply. Builders and developers see the land and the permit path. Use highest and best use thinking and check insurance options early. Rural Deschutes County parcels may also depend on wells and septic systems, which adds questions about condition and cost. Do not assume utilities can be reconnected. Ask each provider what a restart would require before you tell a buyer anything.

Land value

A lot in Bend can carry the price. See wholesaling land.

Fire damage

Some orders follow a blaze. Read the fire-damaged house guide.

Owner burnout

Owners who face a deadline and large repair costs may prefer a clean sale.

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Lead sources

Where to find condemned house leads in Oregon

Building department records. Ask for posted orders and open cases. See code violation leads.
Posted notices. Orange or red placards on a door are a clear signal.
Fire reports. Local fire incidents may point to damaged homes. Compare with fire-damaged houses.
Tax records. Delinquent owners may hold unsafe homes. See tax delinquent lists.
Neighbors. People nearby often know who owns the empty house and who to call.

Your exit

Who buys condemned houses in Oregon

Builders, developers and experienced rehabbers buy these properties. Many want the lot and plan to demolish. Others have the crew to bring the home to code. Be careful with buyers who ask you to hide the order. Share it openly, because a surprise at closing kills deals and can hurt your name. Experienced builders in Central Oregon usually appreciate plain facts, and they will remember who dealt with them fairly.

Show them the order, a site plan and the zoning. A buyer who sees a clear path pays more. Our due diligence guide lists what to share, and the title insurance guide helps with closing.

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Step by step

How to start wholesaling condemned houses in Oregon

Read the order. Get the condemnation notice and the building department contact.
Learn the path. Ask what repair, permit or demolition work is required.
Check the lot. Review zoning, setbacks, utilities and any easements.
Run the numbers. Use the ARV calculator and MAO calculator with large reserves.
Disclose. Give the Oregon wholesaler disclosure before the contract.
Sign with exits. Write protections using our inspection contingency guide.
Close with title. Use an investor-friendly title company.

Your checklist for wholesaling Condemned Houses in Oregon

Get a copy of the condemnation order.
Ask the building department what the cure path is.
Register with the Agency or confirm your license.
Build an inspection period into the contract.
Check insurance and title before you list.

An Oregon example: an unsafe cabin-style house in Bend

Lot value	$330,000
Demolition and permits	$38,000
Contract price	$185,000
Buyer price	$201,000
Assignment fee	$16,000
Closing	28 days

A Bend owner inherited an older cabin-style house after a roof collapse. The county posted an unsafe notice. The family lived out of state and did not want to deal with permits.

You obtained the order and talked to the building department. A builder estimated $38,000 for demolition and permits. You gave the wholesaler disclosure and signed at $185,000 after the cancellation window.

The builder paid $201,000 for the assignment and planned a new home on the lot. You earned $16,000. The family avoided carrying costs and fines.

Oregon rules to know

Oregon rules for unsafe properties

Oregon requires residential wholesalers to register with the Real Estate Agency or hold a broker license. The written disclosure must reach sellers, buyers and any brokers involved, and it must appear in your ads. A seller who never receives it may be able to cancel at any time. Unregistered wholesaling can lead to fines and a cease and desist order. Check the Agency’s current text.

Condemnation rules come from city and county codes, and the process differs by place. A condemned home may also carry liens, fines or demolition costs, so run a title search. Talk to a local attorney before you promise a buyer anything about permits.

Learn it with a mentor

Know the order before you offer

Condemned deals can go wrong fast. Mentorship students show us the order and the numbers, and we help them decide whether to proceed.

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FAQ

Condemned Houses in Oregon: common questions

Is wholesaling condemned houses in Oregon legal?

Yes, generally, when you follow the registration and disclosure rules and tell the buyer about the order. Get the order itself, confirm what it allows, and state it in the contract. The written disclosure goes to the seller and buyer before the contract.

Can a condemned house be sold?

In most cases yes, but the order and any liens stay with the property. An order may bar occupancy, require repairs by a date, or demand demolition, so read it and ask the building department what must happen next and by when.

Do buyers need cash?

Usually. Lenders often avoid unsafe properties, so cash buyers dominate. In places like Bend, builders and developers also look at the land and the permit path, since a worn house on a good lot may be worth more as a rebuild.

Who tells me what is required?

The city or county building department, in writing where possible. Ask each utility provider what a restart would require too, and do not assume utilities can be reconnected before you tell a buyer anything about the property or the timeline.

Can I use inspection contingencies?

Yes. They protect you and the buyer while you verify the order. Use the inspection period to get the order itself, confirm its limits with the building department, and check wells and septic on rural parcels before the buyer commits.