As the housing crisis continues, a great number of my inspections are homes in foreclosure. It is by no suprise to most of you that many of these homes which once stood proud as a symbol of the American Dream, now lie is a state of disarray. Holes are punched in walls, electrical wire is pulled for scrap, and in some cases, structural damage is so great, the home is deemed uninhabitable. I still have a hard time trying to understand why these individuals feel the need destroy something they can't have. Perhaps they are feeling frustrated, disillusioned, or even vengeful given the circumstances they are facing. Whatever the reason, these individuals are feeling the need to act out.
It is difficult for financial institutions to prosecute home strippers for their crimes, however they are making headway.
Here is an article that was published last month indicating reasons some individuals strip their homes.
The reasons people strip houses often are based on emotion.
Craig Lewis of Prudential California Realty in Modesto suggested that some residents may be angry and want to take out that anger on the lender foreclosing on the home. He said the owners may have invested in home improvements and feel they're owed something in return.
"I do not understand what compels people to do this," Lewis said. "It's really a selfish act."
He said the thefts affect the home's value, which sometimes attracts buyers looking for a bargain, while other buyers are deterred by so many missing items and damage.
In his experience, fewer homeowners are stripping foreclosed houses, possibly reflecting the work they've put into keeping them.
But Chad Costa of Modesto-based Re-Max Executive said house stripping still occurs in Stanislaus County and real estate officials are starting to file more police reports.
He said it's not always clear whether the previous owners committed the crime or thieves ransacked the vacant home. Sometimes, the stolen property is found being offered for sale on Internet sites.
"People have this attitude that they're going to stick it to the bank," said Costa, who specializes in foreclosures. "We've seen places where the carpets have been torn out, or they've jackhammered a hole in the floor."
The majority of the thefts in Stanislaus County resulted in kitchen appliances taken, things such as stoves and dishwashers. Costa said those thefts, however, pale in comparison to the amount of items missing in Ripon.
So you want to be a stripper? Think Again.
Not too far from the Morenos' foreclosed home, a similar crime is alleged to have occurred at a home once owned by John and Janette Freitas.
Taylor, the San Joaquin prosecutor, said the Morenos and the Freitases were acquainted and lived around the corner from each other. He said the wives are friends and both worked as real estate agents.
The Freitases were arrested late last month on suspicion of felony grand theft, extortion and attempted extortion.
The couple is accused of stripping their $1 million foreclosed home in July 2009 and trying to sell the stolen items to the new owners for $50,000 a few months late
While a great deal of emotion is expended in a foreclosure, it is important to understand the implications, not only for the owner going through distress, but for all parties involved in the future sale of the property.
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