Q: Can I buy unused property behind my home?
Behind our home there is a section of land that while researching turns out to be owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation. I think it was acquired decades ago for a road that was never built. Now that the lots were divided up and built on just this strip of land remains. Our house it the only property that can access this land. To each side of my property are ponds and to the north is a built subdivision with an HOA fenced in. We are using the land because frankly no one else is. My question is, is it possible to buy the land from the state? I’ve heard of IDOT taking private lands to build roads but I’ve never heard of someone buying land from them. The previous owners of our house used the land as well for over 20 years. We’d like to make it official and buy it if possible. Any thoughts?
A:
Talk to an experienced real estate attorney.
You may have the right to go to court and have the land declared as belonging to your property.
If not, the State of Illinois will be happy to sell it to you.
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