[JimMe]

The Wall Street Journal had a long and excellent article today about foreclosures, the areas nationally most affected (interestingly Florida appears to be doing better than other areas like southern California and Las Vegas) and strategies being employed by lenders to off load these properties. One of the problems identified is that foreclosed homes often invite vandalism or squatters or simply fall into disrepair and thus blight the neighborhood in which they are located. Have you noticed much of that in the community where you reside?

[WOWAddict]

There are couple in my neighborhood and a couple others that will turn into them soon, short sales going no where.

No problem w/ sqatters but yea the disrepair is an issue mostly lawn up keep. People next door to them end up cutting it themselves

[121804]

Originally Posted by JimMe

The Wall Street Journal had a long and excellent article today about foreclosures, the areas nationally most affected (interestingly Florida appears to be doing better than other areas like southern California and Las Vegas) and strategies being employed by lenders to off load these properties. One of the problems identified is that foreclosed homes often invite vandalism or squatters or simply fall into disrepair and thus blight the neighborhood in which they are located. Have you noticed much of that in the community where you reside?

When viewing two homes, both on separate occasions, in the Deep Creek section of Punta Gorda, the homes were vandalized. The glass door leading into the home from the lanai had been broken. In one of the home we found a sleeping blanket & McDonald's bag in the bathroom.

In a city near us, the homes are quite old & those that are vacant have been broken into due to copper plumbing. Not sure what the value of copper plumbing is, but guess it draws in some money in some scam.

[tamcim72]

brand new home one lot over from me was vacant for almost 2 years...previous owners lived in it a few months never to be seen again. new people just bought and moving into! b/c utilities had been cut off the landscaping will need to be redone etc. but it couldn't get any worse. We've complained to HOA for months about foreclosure houses and the banks not taking care of them. T think they should be made to keep utilities on and keep yard decent, but it doesn't seem to be the case anywhere. I'm sure with summer growing season coming quickly the yards will really start looking bad!

[mattvj5]

yeah...the banks are going to have to do something about the yards..it's going to get real bad this summer

[MyHomeIsInOcala]

The Banks and asset management companies WILL and DO pay the listing agent to care for the properties. This includes trash outs (Cleaning of the home), yard care, pool drainage and cover, and power. I never once had any of my REO/Foreclosed properties look bad.

Complain to the Listing agent AND their Brokerage!!!