Can I keep the PR 3 for a domain that I purchase?

[zyhit007]

I like a domain with Pr3 from snapename and I want to buy it.
I wonder whether can I keep the PR of this domain?
If I can, what should do next?
Thanks in advance!

[tedster]

If you purchase a domain before it drops, then it's much more likely to keep the PR - especially if you can keep the files online and not change the site immediately after the Whois changes. Sometimes you can keep the PR with a dropped domain, but it's much less likely. Google does tend to reset PR when a domain drops.

Most domains have backlinks to the Home Page that drive the bulk of PR - but sometimes it's a internal page that is the link magnet. So I'd research that to be sure not to let an important link target go 404.

[Huligan]

Let's say you unknowingly buy a expired domain for a website that Google had previously banned. If you purchased this domain and 301 redirected it to your website, would your website lose rank or be banned as well?