Mayor's Anti-Flipping Task Force

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CITY OF BUFFALO MAYOR’S ANTI FLIPPING TASK FORCE MISSION:

The Mayor’s Anti-Flipping Task Force (AFTF) combats the unsavory real estate practices of unethical and fraudulent property flipping that contribute to neighborhood destabilization and community disinvestment.

The AFTF was established in response to residents’ complaints regarding property flipping of homes in distressed neighborhoods. Housing Court Liaison Michele Johnson and Building Inspector Tracy Krug observed flipping activity and began to investigate and shed light on this practice. On December 16, 2004, at the request of Assemblymember Sam Hoyt, a NYS Assembly hearing took place to address community complaints regarding the practice involving vacant properties being sold repeatedly without regard to condition or actual value.

As a result of the hearing, as well as meetings with residents and other interested parties, Mayor Masiello formally established the Anti-Flipping Task Force in May 2005, an initiative which continues to be fully supported by Buffalo’s current Mayor, Byron Brown. Assemblymember Sam Hoyt and Senator Stachowski are Co-Chairs of the effort and the Western New York Law Center, a not-for profit law firm, was chosen to lead the AFTF.

Private partners are actively involved, such as the Buffalo Niagara Association of Realtors, Upstate NY Chapter of the Appraisal Institute, Bar Association of Erie County, Hilbert College, Erie Community College and Buffalo State College.