SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WNDU) - Buying vacant lots without a realtor can be a confusing and frustrating process.

One South Bend resident says it took him months to get county land records updated in his name.

Terrance Rutherford and his wife live on Cushing Street. After moving into their home, they decided to buy two vacant lots next to it to prevent future development there.

“When the revitalization program came our way, we wouldn’t end up with a parking lot or a grocery store there,” Rutherford said. “So we wanted to have ownership of it so we could control the narrative.”

Rutherford says buying the first lot and getting the property in his name was not an easy process.

“We purchased from the other owner for $60 in September, and it closed in March,” Rutherford said.

Rutherford said he

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