Property Ownership Analysis & Sheriff Sale Tracking

Background

Many communities across Western Pennsylvania face challenges related to vacant properties, tax delinquency, and speculative property purchasing. In Wilkinsburg, these issues contribute to neighborhood instability and make it difficult for local residents to access and maintain housing.

The Wilkinsburg Land Bank sought to better understand patterns in property ownership and the outcomes of sheriff’s sales in order to identify trends that may contribute to vacancy and abandonment. By analyzing property ownership data and tax delinquency records, this project aimed to provide clearer insight into who owns properties in Wilkinsburg and how distressed properties move through the tax and foreclosure pipeline.

Project Details

Our team collaborated with the Wilkinsburg Land Bank to analyze property ownership records and develop visualizations that highlight trends in property acquisition and tax delinquency.

Workstream 1: Ownership Patterns & Corporate Property Mapping

• Analyzed property ownership data to identify whether properties are owned by individual homeowners, corporations, nonprofits, or institutional investors.
• Examined recent property sales to determine the percentage of properties purchased by corporate entities compared to local residents.
• Investigated the geographic origin of property owners, distinguishing between local, in-state, out-of-state, and national investors.
• Developed visualizations and summaries highlighting trends in corporate ownership and external investment in Wilkinsburg properties.

Workstream 2: Sheriff’s Sale Tracking & Tax Delinquency Analysis

• Analyzed sheriff’s sale data to track which properties were sold, who purchased them, and potential post-sale ownership patterns.
• Identified properties currently at risk of entering sheriff’s sale due to tax delinquency.
• Created visualizations and reports highlighting clusters of tax delinquent properties across Wilkinsburg.
• Provided insights into how distressed properties move through the foreclosure and acquisition pipeline.

Deliverables

• Ownership Pattern Analysis Report
  A report with visualizations identifying trends in property ownership and corporate purchasing patterns within Wilkinsburg.

• Sheriff Sale & Tax Delinquency Dashboard
  Visual reports and charts tracking sheriff’s sale outcomes and highlighting properties at risk of tax delinquency.

• Property Data Visualization Toolkit
  Maps and summary visualizations designed to support community discussions and policy analysis related to property ownership trends.

• Final Presentation
  An executive presentation summarizing key findings and insights delivered to the Wilkinsburg Land Bank team.

Outcomes

This project provided the Wilkinsburg Land Bank with a clearer understanding of property ownership patterns and the dynamics of distressed property sales in the borough. By visualizing corporate ownership trends and identifying properties at risk of tax delinquency, the project equips the organization with insights that can support strategic planning, community advocacy, and efforts to stabilize neighborhoods affected by vacancy and speculative property investment.