Comments on: In it for the Money: Occupation

By: Dave Askins

Dave Askins — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 23:13:03 +0000

Re: "Who can we call to find out what pressure can be made on the property owners to either sell these houses, fix them up and rent them, or tear them down?" Lost in the shuffle of city council committee appointments made at the Dec. 5 meeting, was a new position: council liaison to the city's nuisance committee. That job was assigned to Stephen Kunselman. Kunselman can be reached at SKunselman AT a2gov.org

By: Mecro

Mecro — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:14:43 +0000

We have two uninhabited properties in our neighborhood that have both been empty for over five years. They are owned by people and not by banks. The properties are minimally maintained and are eyesores, becoming homes to rats, mice, and snakes, and dragging down the value of neighbors’ properties. Who can we call to find out what pressure can be made on the property owners to either sell these houses, fix them up and rent them, or tear them down?

By: Larry Siden

Larry Siden — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:21:44 +0000

Fantastic article. You rock!

By: MBJohnston

MBJohnston — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:48:57 +0000

Here's who is responsible along with BOA: [link] Countrywide didn't even respond to their claim when offered. BOA hasn't had the courtesy to stop sending correspondence 1-2 times per week for the last 3.5 years even after receiving multiple letters reminding them that they own the property. Something needs to be done. Local elected officials shouldn't stand for this type of blatant misuse of power over their citizens. The local government along with the neighborhood is hurt. Who's going to listen? Who's willing to do anything? Who's going to take a stand?

By: WFMortModScam

WFMortModScam — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:40:18 +0000

Outstanding article! Isn’t it just awful that the big banks in their foreclosure feeding frenzy are leaving homes in disrepair (or, in some cases actually tearing them down!) when so many people just need a roof over their heads? The housing market and all the associated parts of the greater economy will not recover as long as this is going on. And our federal government is enabling the banks and doing nothing for the ordinary people. When did it become good for the long-term economic stability of this country to have a homeless, jobless middle class?

Oh, and you were lucky. “Force placing” homeowners’ insurance on a mortgage holder is one of the sneaky little strategies the banksters use to try to nudge more people into foreclosure. Google the term and you’ll find all kinds of horror stories. You’re lucky you found some help at your insurance company.

By: DR

DR — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:19:36 +0000

I have an idea: Why don’t you have someone estimate the loss in value to your property, and that of all your neighbours, from having a house in disrepair next to yours, and sue BofA for the depreciation as well as punitive damages? That would likely get their nickers in enough of a twist that they might actually do something about the property.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 13:17:42 +0000

Great writing. I loved this. There is a property in my neighborhood that I am watching. What I have learned is that you have a very tiny window to buy a property and keep it from rotting. As part of the foreclosure process, there is a sheriff’s sale. A notice is posted on the house with the date of the sale. You need to bring a cashier’s check. I saw the notice the day after the sale. What happens almost always is that the bank holding the mortgage buys the property back from itself (yeah, that’s right). This is what happened with this house. Then the law requires that the purchaser must wait 6 months before putting the house on the market (to give the homeowner time to somehow reclaim it). If they do not list the house on the market, there is no way to buy it from the bank, no matter who you call. I’ve been in touch with the homeowner who would love to help me buy it but can do nothing. I called the bank, Wells Fargo, got nowhere. We shall see what they do when the 6 months is up.

By: Just Ken

Just Ken — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 12:43:07 +0000

I don’t know who’s conduct I like less the mortgage holder or the city’s.

By: Roger Rayle

Roger Rayle — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 07:15:00 +0000

Great article. Would expect nothing less after seeing David's talk at the 07/31/2010 Ignite Maker Faire Detroit: "Tricking Yourself into Writing" [link to video]

By: metasonix

metasonix — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 04:11:16 +0000

Just fyi, that “Bank Of America Home Loans” office, 4500 Park Granada in Calabasas, is only a mail drop that Countrywide established long ago. It was one of the slimy tricks that Angelo Mozilo and his Mafia buddies figured out back in the 1960s–you take the mail in at a rented office, but if a process server shows up to serve a subpoena or a court order, the people at the mail drop are coached to say “sorry, we’re not Countrywide employees, we’re an independent contractor, and all we do is process and sort their mail here”. When BofA bought the remains of Countrywide, they simply kept on using the same tricks.

You will see more big banks take up those techniques.