Urban Neighborhoods
The City of Milwaukee is actively marketing these home building sites. Sites range from established urban neighborhood lots to large suburban lots where you can spread out. This is a great opportunity to build your dream home in the neighborhood of your choice.
The City of Milwaukee is accepting offers for new home construction on these sites!
Arlington Gardens Neighborhood
Avenues West Neighborhood
Granville Woods Neighborhood
Park Knoll Neighborhood
Ridgeview Neighborhood
Riverwest Neighborhood
Triangle North Neighborhood
The City of Milwaukee is is also actively marketing $1,000 building sites for single family new home construction in two brand new subdivisions in the heart of the City, Walnut Circle and Josey Heights. Visit the link for additional information.
Building on a City of Milwaukee Vacant Lot
1. Find a builder -- design your home
- Milwaukee's New Home Catalogue
- Find an experienced homebuilder and prepare your house plans
- A good resource is Metropolitan Builders Association
- Ask if your builder has experience building in urban neighborhoods with narrow lots and impacted subsoil conditions.
- Design a home that is appropriate for the lot and the neighborhood. Pay attention to:
2. Prepare your budget
- Work with your builder to prepare an affordable budget that works for your project
- Avoid surprises by reserving in your budget or by making sure the following costs are included in the contract with your builder:
- $5,000 to $10,000 for additional excavation and soil disposal trucking fees since most City lots contain old foundations
- $8,000 for sewer and water lateral connections to city utilities in the street
- Costs for tree removal or utility pole relocation
These are approximate costs. Your costs may vary. Understand what is covered in the contract with your builder and what costs you may be responsible for.
3. Obtain a prequalification letter for your budgeted costs
4. Submit your offer
- Complete the City Vacant Land Offer to Purchase
- Read the offer carefully for expiration and performance dates, buyer policies, sale terms and conditions and City disclosures
- Make sure all blanks are completed
- If you are interested in any of the building sites above, please contact Tess Wynn at (414) 286-5838 to submit an offer.
- Attach your prequalification letter for a new construction home loan, or proof of funds for construction price.
- Submit the house elevations and a site plan if available for DCD approval. If you do not have plans yet, you must submit them in 30 days of offer acceptance.
DCD will accept your offer if the offering price is reasonable, your plans are compatible with the neighborhood and our design standards and you do not violate the City Buyer Policies.
5. Work on your final plans
- Obtain DCD plan approval if plans were not submitted with your offer
- Apply for a building permit with DCD’s Development Center for the approved design
6. Close on the lot
Closing must happen within 120 days of offer acceptance. Contingencies include submission to DCD of the following:
- Building permit for the approved design
- Executed construction contract
- Final financing with no contingencies and/or evidence of equity that matches your contract
The City will convey by Quit Claim Deed on an “as is, where is” basis. The City will provide title insurance if the sales price is $10,000 or more.
7. Start building!
- Construction must start within 15 days of closing
- You must finish building and landscaping within 12 months of closing
8. Move In.
Questions? If you are unsure about the appropriateness of your plans in terms of lot size or design, call us at (414) 286-5838 before submitting your offer.