Historic districts and design review

Savannah has one of the largest and most strictly managed historic districts in the country, along with the Victorian District and the Cuyler-Brownville and Thomas Square areas. Exterior work in these districts is subject to review, which affects what can be changed, how long a renovation takes, and what it costs.

That is a genuine obstacle for an owner who cannot fund a compliant renovation and a genuine reason these houses trade as-is. We buy with review requirements in place; they are part of our assessment rather than a reason to pass.

Termites are a first-order problem here

Coastal Georgia has intense termite pressure, and Savannah in particular has dealt with Formosan subterranean termites, which are far more destructive than native species. Structural damage to sills, joists, and framing in nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century wood-frame houses is common, and a termite letter is a standard part of a Georgia closing.

Active infestation or prior structural damage will frequently end a financed sale, because a lender wants the damage repaired and the treatment documented first. We buy with the damage in place.

Water: tidal, rainfall, and surge

Chatham County floods in more than one way. Tidal flooding affects low-lying streets on the islands and along the marsh. Heavy rainfall overwhelms drainage in parts of Savannah built long before modern standards. And storm surge is the serious risk — Matthew in 2016 and Irma in 2017 both drove water into coastal neighborhoods and onto Tybee Island.

For a house in a mapped flood zone, substantial-improvement rules can require a heavily repaired structure to be brought up to current floodplain standards, which on the coast can mean elevating it. That is often why a flood-affected Savannah house sits unfinished.

Chatham County property we buy

  • Nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century houses in Savannah, including in design-review districts
  • Houses with active termite infestation or prior structural termite damage
  • Property with tidal, rainfall, or surge flood history, repaired or not
  • Beach houses, condos, and short-term rentals on Tybee Island
  • Mid-century housing in Garden City, Port Wentworth, and west Savannah
  • Newer subdivision housing in Pooler
  • Student and workforce rentals, occupied or vacant
  • Heirs' property in older Savannah neighborhoods

Records and closing in Chatham

Savannah is the county seat. Deeds, security deeds, and liens are recorded with the Chatham County Clerk of Superior Court and searchable statewide; estates run through the Chatham County Probate Court. The board of assessors sets fair market value and the tax commissioner bills at 40 percent of it.

A licensed Georgia attorney closes the sale, and a termite letter is standard. If the property is in a review district or has flood history, tell us at the start — both are workable.

Frequently asked questions

Will you buy a house with termite damage?

Yes, including active infestation and prior structural damage. It is one of the most common reasons a coastal Georgia financed sale fails.

Do you buy houses in the Savannah historic districts?

Yes. Exterior design review is part of our assessment, not an obstacle.

Do you buy houses that flooded from Matthew or Irma?

Yes, at any stage of repair, including properties that flooded more than once.

Will you buy a short-term rental on Tybee Island?

Yes, including units in buildings with assessments.

Nobody probated my family's Savannah house. Can you buy it?

Often yes, once the chain of title is cleared. Start there — it is usually the longest step.

Chatham County property and court resources