Nonprofit · We Earn Nothing
Urbni
A nonprofit that takes vacant, abandoned, and tax-delinquent properties and restores them into affordable housing for veterans, seniors, people in recovery, and families leaving homelessness. If a property has become a burden you cannot carry, donating it is a real alternative to watching it go to sheriff sale.
Our relationship with them, stated plainly. Urbni is a nonprofit run by a friend of the people behind this guide, and the customer-management account this site uses to keep track of inquiries is hosted in Urbni's workspace, so Urbni's team can see inquiries stored there (details in our privacy policy). We receive no referral fee, no commission, and no compensation of any kind if you donate to them. They are listed here because for some property owners this is genuinely the best outcome available, not because it earns us anything. That is true of everything on this site.
What a recommendation here means
Recommendations come from two things. First, years of placing New Jersey homeowners with these specific companies by hand and seeing how each one actually handled the situation. Second, matching your answers against what each company handles: property condition, price range, service area, and how quickly it can close, verified against their own site. Nothing is ranked by payment, because nobody pays us. This is our judgement from experience, not a guarantee of what any company will offer you, so compare before you commit.
You will not find testimonials, star ratings, or success statistics here yet. Not for lack of homeowners helped, but because that work was done privately over years and we never asked permission to publish anyone's story. We are collecting that permission properly from now on. When there is enough, we will publish what actually happened, including the cases that did not work out.
Read this before anything else
Donating a property does not erase a mortgage. A lender's lien follows the property, so you cannot donate your way out of a loan you still owe. If your balance is close to or above what the home is worth, a donation generally is not available to you and a short sale, a modification, or Chapter 13 is the more realistic path.
Donation fits best when the property is owned free and clear, or nearly so, and has become a liability rather than an asset. Anyone who tells you that donating cancels your mortgage debt is either mistaken or not being straight with you.
When Donating Actually Makes Sense
Some properties cost more to keep than they will ever return. An inherited house three states away that needs a new roof. A vacant lot accruing taxes every year. A home damaged beyond what any insurance settlement will cover. Owners in that position often assume their only options are to pour money in or let it go for taxes.
There is a third option. Urbni accepts donated homes and land, handles the paperwork at no cost to the owner, and restores the property into housing through programs including Healing Homes for people in recovery, Homes for Heroes for veterans, and Second Start for families who are homeless or at risk of it.
They also state that land donations are tax-deductible. A charitable contribution of real property can produce a deduction, but the amount and your eligibility depend on your specific tax situation and typically require a qualified appraisal. Talk to a tax professional before counting on any particular number.
Is This You?
Donation may fit
- Property is owned outright or nearly so
- Inherited property you cannot maintain or travel to
- Vacant house or empty lot accruing taxes
- Repair costs exceed what the property is worth
- You would rather it house someone than sit empty
Donation does not fit
- You still owe a substantial mortgage balance
- The property has real equity you could realize by selling
- You need cash from the property
- You want to keep living there
If there is meaningful equity, selling almost always serves you better than donating, even at a discount to a cash buyer. Money in your pocket beats a deduction you may not be able to fully use.
Where the Property Goes
Homes for Heroes
US military veterans facing housing instability or transitioning back to civilian life.
Healing Homes
People in recovery from substance abuse who have completed treatment and are ready for the next step.
Second Start
Individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Grace Homes
One of their supportive housing programs serving people in need.
They accept donated homes, land, money, and food, and also take volunteers. Program details are drawn from their public site and may change.
Ask these before donating
- Is there any lien, mortgage, or unpaid tax balance on the property, and who is responsible for it?
- When exactly does ownership and liability transfer, including taxes, insurance, and upkeep?
- What documentation will I receive for tax purposes, and do I need a qualified appraisal?
- Are there any costs to me at any point in the process?
- What happens if the property does not qualify for their programs?
Confirm their nonprofit status and current standing independently before transferring any property. That is standard practice for any charitable gift of real estate, not a comment on this organization.
Not Sure Which Path Fits?
The free assessment takes two minutes. If keeping the property is realistic it says so first, and if there is equity worth realizing it will point you toward selling rather than donating.
NJ Foreclosure Guide is an educational resource and receives no compensation from Urbni. We are not a law firm, lender, real estate brokerage, or tax advisor, and nothing here is legal or tax advice. Property donation has legal and tax consequences that depend entirely on your circumstances. Consult a licensed attorney and a tax professional before donating real estate.