You also become responsible for any unpaid property taxes, because they are attached to the property rather than to the person who owned it when the debt was incurred.

what the hell

That's why they are so cheap.

Shitty that an accountant policy is hurting a city.

Not sure if it's still the case but you could by adjacent vacant lots for $100.

That is still the case, but only if you own a home on the lot adjacent to the vacant lot.

From my understanding, there's also a caveat that you have to live in the home. Or have a tenant or something similar. I think it has (had?) something to do with preventing outside speculators from holding properties while the structures become (further) dilapidated and/or collapse.