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Why Detroiters still use risky land contracts to buy homes
By Nushrat Rahman at BridgeDetroit
· June 17, 2026
· 4 min read
Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press
A new report found about 1,000 recorded land contracts a year in Detroit over the past two decades — a sign that the potentially risky financi...
Key takeaway The report is one of the first steps toward policy change, said Anika Goss, CEO of Detroit Future City.
Why this matters in The Detroit
The prevalence of land contracts in Detroit's housing market has significant implications for the city's residents, particularly those who are already vulnerable to economic uncertainty. With fewer protections than traditional mortgages, land contracts can leave buyers at risk of losing their homes and investments if they fall behind on payments. The fact that land contracts have remained a steady fixture in the city's housing market over the past two decades suggests that many Detroiters are being forced to rely on this potentially risky financing tool due to limited access to traditional mortgage lending. As policymakers consider legislative changes to better regulate land contracts, they must also address the underlying issues that are driving demand for these contracts, such as limited affordable housing options and inadequate financial resources for low-income and minority communities. By doing so, they can help create a more stable and equitable housing market for all Detroiters.
About this story
Original reporting by BridgeDetroit . The Detroit surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit BridgeDetroit . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: June 17, 2026 ·
Source: BridgeDetroit ·
Reading time: 4 min
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What is this story about? Detroit Free Press is a partner and shares a reporter with BridgeDetroit. Stories shared are not under a paywall. Detroit Free Press
A new report found about 1,000 recorded land contracts a year in Detroit over the past two decades — a sign that the potentially risky financi...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 17, 2026 by BridgeDetroit and curated for The Detroit readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Nushrat Rahman at BridgeDetroit. To learn more about how The Detroit selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
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