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: none. Urbni is a nonprofit. We receive no referral fee, no commission, and no compensation of any kind if you donate to them, and we are not affiliated with 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.

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.

Take the Free Assessment Go to Urbni

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.