Foreclosure Crisis: Messengers Of Doom

September 17th, 2007

The Deputy Sheriff in San Bernardino has the onerous task of distributing eviction notices. He goes armed with a Glock and rolls of scotch tape to post the volumes of orders. Previously he went on his rounds in the downtown area but now forays forth into fancy neighbourhoods with lawns and pools.

The Deputy shows up after a house has been auctioned off and the previous occupants refuse to leave either stubbornly or because of false hopes. Many run away at the eleventh hour but others have to be forcibly evicted. There are many pitfalls. Strickland is cautious about entering because of a nasty past experience. Once when the deputy showed up a man shot himself in despair. In another instance the borrower was trying to desperately sell off his unit in a last minute attempt to save himself. When he saw the deputy coming he ran and drove away leaving a bewildered customer!

More often than not the new owners are the banks. Their representatives cannot be cautiously slow. They have so many houses to deal with that they just do not have the time to wait for the occasional maniac to show up. The deputy however is not willing to take chances and proceeds cautiously. The scenes are pathetic with teddy bears lying around and eggs rolling on the counter next to a bottle of ale. Bank officials hasten to secure an insecure gate to fence off entry of vagabonds.

Eviction is painful but one of the worst of the kind is when the sheriff puts on the lock. California law stipulates that the deputy sheriff is deputized to do the job between 6.30 am and mid afternoon four days in a week. Strickland has to deal with a dozen each day apart from issuing warning to those waiting in line. It keeps him on his toes.

During the first quarter San Bernardino listed 909 foreclosures which was double that of last year during the same time. Foreclosures are time consuming and complex. After evaluation ‘trash-out’ firms secure and spruce up the units. But nothing can be done unless the house is vacant. Lenders follow a carrot and stick policy. Some occupants are bribed to leave. It is known as the cash-for-keys policy and prevents evictees from vandalizing the properties. When that fails the stick of the court is the only option.