The Dangers of Living in a Neighbourhood Dotted With Foreclosed Units

September 25th, 2008

In South Florida it is dangerous to live in a neighbourhood that is dotted with foreclosed units. These abandoned houses are not just eyesores but they attract crime and disease. The unkempt gardens become a haven for snakes as they chase rodent packs and leaping frogs. The stagnant slimy pools apart from posing danger to inquisitive children become breeding grounds for mosquitoes. This is the harsh surrounding in which the neighbours of these abandoned foreclosed units live. The eyesores are fast becoming urgent problems.

Angelo Castillo of Broward County Planning Council bemoans that “It’s changing our quality of life, and it’s alarming.” It is expected that federal help will start trickling in before the year draws to a close but the locals are not willing to wait. They are taking their own initiatives and without sanction are quietly mowing lawns while the city fathers struggle with legalities.

Becky Blackwood in Plantation Park East is one such resident affected by the empty foreclosed houses. She found seven mice in one of her pools. She is most unhappy to live near such units but feels helpless in the face of the problem.

The city officials are warning that the numbers of deserted foreclosed houses are rapidly increasing. But the city does not have either the manpower or the funds to tackle such exigencies. Once the foreclosure procedure starts off the municipal dues are the last ones to get attention.

In Palm Beach County the foreclosure figures spiked by 282%. In 2006 there were 665 foreclosure postings but on 4th September the number was 2,541. In Broward County from January to September this year there were 6,401 foreclosure proceedings as against 761 in the 12 months of 2006.

Gus Zambrano the director of Miramar’s economic development and revitalization says that nothing of significance can be done as their hands are tied by property tax reform. Florida has remained for a considerable period among the top offending states in the country. However in October the municipalities will get to know how much of federal help will be available. $3.92 billion has been set aside for the purchase of foreclosed houses. These will be refurbished and resold or rented out.

Meanwhile locally steps are being taken to contain the crisis. Deerfield Beach and Coral Springs have passed laws that will make it mandatory for banks to register with the cities in which their foreclosed houses are located.