Wow. I don't understand, how could they stop you from selling the home to someone who wanted to buy it for 40k, though?
"...how could they stop you from selling the home to someone who wanted to buy it for 40k, though?"
Because the garage had deteriorated to such an extent that they condemned the building. They declared it to be a dangerous building, condemned it and ordered it to be demolished. Coincidentally, the Dangerous Building Officer who inspected the property just happened to live directly across the street from the house and had inquired into buying the house when we were ready to sell it.
I had to go before the township board and appeal to them to change the demolition order. Their solution was to allow me and a licensed builder to pay $250 for the privilege to ask for a variance to allow repairs in excess of $5000.
The building inspector is miffed that the board and zoning board of appeals agreed that it would be best to allow someone to make the repairs. In other words, they overrode his decision. He is now going to be a hard nose and try to force delays, so the investors do not meet the ZBA's deadlines and the house will then be demolished.
He has driven away two buyers since the ZBA meeting on 12/13. He is telling all of them that they will allow no extensions to the deadlines - not a second.