{"asOf":"2026-07-25T13:55:25.976Z","block":"500-599 E DURHAM ST","blockUrl":"https://philadelphia.blockreport.homes/block/500-599-e-durham-st","address":"523 E DURHAM ST","parcelNumber":"222168600","source":"https://property.phila.gov/?p=222168600","ownerType":"owner-occupied","kind":"house","isHouse":true,"home":true,"commercial":false,"residential":true,"taxExempt":false,"institutional":false,"buildingCode":"J48","buildingCodeNew":"36","buildingClass":"S/D W/D GAR 2.5 STY STONE","buildingClassNew":"TWIN OLD STYLE","useLabel":"House","owner":"WATTS COLLEEN L","coOwner":"KAUFFMAN CHRISTIAN C","marketValue":547900,"landAssessment":109580,"improvementAssessment":438320,"livableArea":2420,"yearBuilt":1925,"lastSale":{"price":1,"date":"2022-12-21T05:00:00Z"},"openViolations":0,"violations":[{"number":"VI-2023-048877","date":"2023-07-11","code":"A-202.4","title":"FAILURE TO PROVIDE REPORTS","status":"WARNING ISSUED","resolutionDate":"2023-07-11","resolution":"WARNING ISSUED"},{"number":"VI-2023-063109","date":"2023-08-23","code":"A-202.4","title":"FAILURE TO PROVIDE REPORTS","status":"SVN ISSUED","resolutionDate":"2023-08-23","resolution":"SVN ISSUED"}],"violationCases":[{"number":"CF-2023-065356","type":"WARNING","priority":"STANDARD","responsibility":"ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT INVESTIGATOR","status":"CLOSED","createdDate":"2023-07-11","completedDate":"2023-07-12","violations":[{"number":"VI-2023-048877","date":"2023-07-11","code":"A-202.4","title":"FAILURE TO PROVIDE REPORTS","status":"WARNING ISSUED","resolutionDate":"2023-07-11","resolution":"WARNING ISSUED"}]},{"number":"CF-2023-086000","type":"SITE VIOLATION NOTICE","priority":"STANDARD","responsibility":"ADMINISTRATIVE DISTRICT INVESTIGATOR","status":"SVN ISSUED, BALANCE DUE","createdDate":"2023-08-23","completedDate":null,"violations":[{"number":"VI-2023-063109","date":"2023-08-23","code":"A-202.4","title":"FAILURE TO PROVIDE REPORTS","status":"SVN ISSUED","resolutionDate":"2023-08-23","resolution":"SVN ISSUED"}]}],"violYears":[{"y":2023,"n":2,"worst":null}],"investigations":[{"caseNumber":"CF-2023-065356","date":"2023-07-11","type":null,"status":null},{"caseNumber":"CF-2023-086000","date":"2023-08-23","type":null,"status":null}],"taxOwed":0,"taxSnapshot":{"available":true,"asOf":"2022-06","matched":false},"taxDelinquencySnapshotAsOf":"2022-06","taxDelinquencySnapshotAvailable":true,"lat":40.066340175517986,"lng":-75.18302372869927,"geom":{"type":"Polygon","coordinates":[[[-75.182768509,40.066247287],[-75.182855812,40.066165157],[-75.183279747,40.066434476],[-75.183192548,40.066514965],[-75.182768509,40.066247287]]]},"liDistrict":"NORTH","certifications":[],"cityRecordAvailability":{"violations":true,"investigations":true,"appeals":true,"certifications":true,"permits":true,"licenses":true},"zip":"19119","beds":4,"baths":1,"stories":3,"lotArea":5934,"zoning":"RSA2","grade":"B-","basement":"D","heater":"B","centralAir":false,"extCond":"4","intCond":"4","garage":1,"homestead":true,"mail":"523 E DURHAM ST, PHILADELPHIA PA, 19119","mailOut":false,"appeals":[],"taxYears":[],"taxNet":0,"taxLien":false,"taxLedgerThrough":2016,"taxLedgerAvailable":true,"timesSold":1,"abated":false,"assessmentExemption":false,"exemptionBasisVerified":false,"valueSeries":[{"y":2016,"v":288200,"taxable":258200,"land":112148,"improvement":176052,"taxableLand":112148,"taxableImprovement":146052,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":30000},{"y":2017,"v":288200,"taxable":258200,"land":43230,"improvement":244970,"taxableLand":43230,"taxableImprovement":214970,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":30000},{"y":2018,"v":288200,"taxable":258200,"land":43230,"improvement":244970,"taxableLand":43230,"taxableImprovement":214970,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":30000},{"y":2019,"v":302400,"taxable":262400,"land":45360,"improvement":257040,"taxableLand":45360,"taxableImprovement":217040,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":40000},{"y":2020,"v":289700,"taxable":244700,"land":43455,"improvement":246245,"taxableLand":43455,"taxableImprovement":201245,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":45000},{"y":2021,"v":289700,"taxable":244700,"land":43455,"improvement":246245,"taxableLand":43455,"taxableImprovement":201245,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":45000},{"y":2022,"v":289700,"taxable":289700,"land":43455,"improvement":246245,"taxableLand":43455,"taxableImprovement":246245,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":0},{"y":2023,"v":393400,"taxable":313400,"land":78680,"improvement":314720,"taxableLand":78680,"taxableImprovement":234720,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":80000},{"y":2024,"v":393400,"taxable":313400,"land":78680,"improvement":314720,"taxableLand":78680,"taxableImprovement":234720,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":80000},{"y":2025,"v":460300,"taxable":360300,"land":92060,"improvement":368240,"taxableLand":92060,"taxableImprovement":268240,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":100000},{"y":2026,"v":460300,"taxable":360300,"land":92060,"improvement":368240,"taxableLand":92060,"taxableImprovement":268240,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":100000},{"y":2027,"v":547900,"taxable":447900,"land":109580,"improvement":438320,"taxableLand":109580,"taxableImprovement":338320,"exemptLand":0,"exemptImprovement":100000}],"taxNow":5043,"familyHeld":true,"lastTransferNominal":true,"permits":[{"number":"605267","date":"2015-04-29","work":"Alteration","type":"BP_ALTER","description":"ALTERATION PERMIT","status":"ABANDONED","completedDate":null,"scope":"REMOVE & DISPOSE OF ROOFING MATERIAL ON LEFT SIDE BAY ROOF. INSTALL FIBER BOARD. INSTALL TPO ROOF SYSTEM."},{"number":"606697","date":"2015-04-30","work":"Alteration","type":"BP_ALTER","description":"ALTERATION PERMIT","status":"EXPIRED","completedDate":null,"scope":"REMOVE & DISPOSE OF ROOFING MATERIAL ON LEFT SIDE BAY ROOF. INSTALL FIBER BOARD. INSTALL TPO ROOF SYSTEM."},{"number":"1052798","date":"2020-03-06","work":"New Construction","type":"Electrical","description":"Electrical Permit","status":"Issued","completedDate":null,"scope":"INSTALL 200AMP PANEL SERVICE CABLE METER SOCKET GROUNDING SYSTEM SQUARE D SURGE PROTECTIVE DEVICE ON PANEL WIRING/DEVICES ALL BY FISHING ONLY AS PER 2014 NEC"},{"number":"PP-2023-006181","date":"2023-05-08","work":"Alterations","type":"Plumbing","description":"Plumbing Permit","status":"Completed","completedDate":"2023-09-27","scope":"Repair main house drain"}],"storyTag":"New construction","storyDelta":null,"timeline":[{"y":2015,"k":"permit","w":"Alteration"},{"y":2015,"k":"permit","w":"Alteration"},{"y":2020,"k":"sale","p":469000},{"y":2020,"k":"permit","w":"New Construction"},{"y":2023,"k":"permit","w":"Alterations"},{"y":2023,"k":"viol","w":"2 L&I violations"}],"rented":false,"licenses":[],"licenseActivity":[],"businessLicenseSourceDate":"2026-07-24","signals":[],"legalChecks":[{"id":"permit-status","level":"attention","title":"A permit row needs file-level verification","finding":"3 permits not marked completed: 605267 (ABANDONED), 606697 (EXPIRED), 1052798 (Issued).","why":"Issued work is not the same as approved final work. L&I uses final inspections and required certifications to close construction permits; expired, withdrawn, and completed are different City statuses.","action":"Open the permit file and confirm final inspections, holds, and any resulting occupancy certificate.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections-by-permit-type/"},{"id":"deed-chain","level":"verify","title":"The latest nominal transfer is not a market sale—or a title opinion","finding":"The latest deed in the assembled record moved for nominal consideration and appears related-party/family-held.","why":"A $1 or nominal deed can be a valid family, estate, or entity transfer. It does not establish a sale price, clear title, or by itself prove a tangled title.","action":"Read the recorded deed and have the title search confirm every grantor, grantee, estate/probate step, lien, and authority to sell.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/property-lots-housing/get-a-copy-of-a-deed-or-other-recorded-document/"},{"id":"homestead","level":"verify","title":"Homestead is tied to owner occupancy and the deed","finding":"OPA shows the Homestead Exemption.","why":"Philadelphia limits Homestead to an owner’s primary residence. The City says a deed change can require a new application or update.","action":"A buyer should apply in their own name and not assume the seller’s benefit continues.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/documents/homestead-exemption-application/"},{"id":"violations","level":"clear","title":"No open violation; closed history remains relevant","finding":"The fetched record shows 0 open and 2 historical violations across 2 cases.","why":"A closed case is materially better than an open one, but it does not by itself prove that every altered use, unit, or concealed condition matches today’s approvals.","action":"Use the closed cases to target the inspection and occupancy-file review.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/departments/department-of-licenses-and-inspections/inspections/violation-and-order-types/"}],"closingChecks":[{"title":"Property Sales Certification","body":"The seller must obtain Philadelphia’s certificate showing the base zoning, last use in the zoning record, and open violations. The City warns that it does not prove Building Code occupancy or show zoning overlays.","action":"Obtain the fresh certificate and compare it with the CO, permits, and Atlas overlays.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/permits-violations-licenses/get-a-certificate/get-a-property-sales-certification/"},{"title":"Date-effective City Property Payoff","body":"The Tax Center Property Payoff covers Real Estate Tax, Commercial Trash, and L&I abatement-work invoices. Philadelphia says it does not include business-tax debts or liens, water and sewer charges, or fines for code violations.","action":"Request the City statement effective through settlement; read every period and invoice.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/guides/philadelphia-tax-center/what-to-do/"},{"title":"Professional title and water-lien searches","body":"OPA ownership, deed summaries, and a zero tax balance are not clear title. Mortgages, judgments, municipal claims, water liens, easements, heirs, and other encumbrances require separate searches.","action":"Use a Pennsylvania lawyer/title company and obtain owner’s title insurance; order the separate water search/payoff.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/2026-04-07-why-title-insurance-is-your-best-friend-when-buying-a-home-in-philadelphia/","secondaryUrl":"https://www.phila.gov/services/water-gas-utilities/pay-or-dispute-a-water-bill/resolve-water-liens-judgments/"},{"title":"Seller-specific tax relief is not the buyer’s bill","body":"LOOP and low-income or senior Real Estate Tax freezes depend on the qualifying owner and continued program eligibility; a buyer cannot assume the seller’s capped or frozen bill continues. A separately verified property abatement often remains with the property for its remaining term, but program-specific new-owner filing, use, and tax-compliance conditions still must be confirmed—not inferred from the reduced assessment alone.","action":"Have Revenue or OPA identify every current benefit, model the buyer’s bill without seller-specific relief, and confirm any verified abatement in writing.","url":"https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/payment-plans-and-assistance-programs/income-based-programs-for-residents/apply-for-the-longtime-owner-occupants-program-loop/","secondaryUrl":"https://www.phila.gov/services/payments-assistance-taxes/taxes/property-and-real-estate-taxes/get-real-estate-tax-relief/tax-freeze/"},{"title":"Seller disclosure and independent inspections","body":"For a covered Pennsylvania residential transfer, obtain the statutory seller disclosure. It reports the seller’s knowledge; it is not a warranty, title search, code review, or substitute for inspections. Because OPA dates this building before 1978, separately obtain the required federal/City lead disclosures and any test results.","action":"Have the agreement and disclosure reviewed for this transaction’s coverage and exceptions.","url":"https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/department-and-offices/bpoa/boards-commissions/real-estate-commission"}]}