What effect will the housing slump have on crime in Baltimore? (foreclosures, houses)

[rgk1500]

I think that there are two possibilities:

Foreclosures will lead to will lead to more vacant properties allowing criminal activity more area to "nest"

or

People won't be able to sell their house to just "get out of Dodge" so they will have to confront the problems around them and, God forbid, become part of their community

What do you think?

[jonjj]

So far this year (knock on wood), our homicide rate is very low. I read somewhere it's lower than it has been in 30 years. Not sure if that has anything to do with the housing market though.

[carolott]

I'm going with the second scenario. I've noticed an upswing in the number of people who are coming by the cafe and interacting with their neighbors, especially on the weekends. More people are also attending community meetings.

[Streetchie]

Maybe the housing slump and price drop associated with it will allow people with modest income to afford homes. Let's hope!

[rudy_d]

A little from column A and a little from column B? I think it really depends on the neighborhood and how many people who bought at the top of the market are speculators who planned to flip the houses and how many intended to live in them. I think it could actually be a good thing in some of the higher priced neighborhoods (people will realize they will be there for a while and should make a commitment and others will have an opportunity to buy houses they couldn't previously afford) but a bad thing in some of the up-and-coming neighborhoods where speculators bought a large number of properties to take advantage of what they thought would be a great investment.