Today is a sad day for many people in Riverside County, and across the United States. It is the Holidays, a time for goodwill, peace, and everything else that is supposed to be good in the world. But for the people that lose their homes it is anything but a happy time. And what about the pets, the kids, the families that can no longer afford to pay their bills, or their mortgages. There are different reasons people are losing their homes, and people handle foreclosure in different ways.
Two days ago I received a call from a Lender who asked if I did REO Homes? Apparently they had just gotten the house back, and wanted a local REALTOR® to list the property. They informed me the people had moved out in the middle of the night. I agreed to go check it out for them, and let them know the condition and value.
I drove to the address which is fairly close to my Office, but when I got to the neighborhood my heart broke. This is an established neighborhood, and used to be one of the best ones in town. I could see the changes. For one the street sign was gone, and for another right there on the corner was the house I was looking for, with trash in the front and side yards....visible to all. Yes, this was the right house, the court papers were taped to the front door, and trash was piled up under it.
I got my camera, and started walking towards the side of the house. As I got nearer the rear fence a very angry sounding dog protested my intrusion onto the property. This surprised me, as the house was supposed to be vacant, but I took a quick peak through the window, and it appeared vacated. I wasn't sure if the dog could get into the house or not, but I wasn't taking any chances.
I went back to the Office to call Animal Control, and I also contacted a friend that does clean-outs. At this point I did not want to go through the house by myself, as it was apparent that the owners had left in a hurry; not even taking their pet (s) with them. Safety is always a concern when dealing with desperate people loosing their homes, and I didn't know the circumstances of their departure.
Anyway, we went back to the house, and shortly afterwards Animal Control showed up. There were 2 dogs abandoned, and one of them had recently had puppies.
I felt bad for the dogs, why didn't the people take them with them? Did they plan on coming back? Didn't they know that once they abandoned the property that the Bank would secure it, and they could no longer get back in legally?
After Animal Control left, with the dogs, we walked through the property. I can't even describe my emotions. The misery of losing their home was evident everywhere. It was obvious this wasn't a planned move, the kind they probably had when they bought the house. They had left in a hurry, taking with them what they could, I guess, and leaving the rest as it was....exactly as it was. Papers, clothing, games, food and trash, the discarded reminants of a Family.
Some good people are losing their homes, and some people just don't care. I have seen people that are involved in Drugs, and can't think of consequences, and others that got in trouble when finances changed to the point where they can no longer afford their home.
This REO House was a Home once. What happened? On the fireplace was a recent Christmas picture of one of the children, and a large Christmas Ornament was lying on the floor, abandoned, along with the wishes and dreams of this family. People don't buy Homes just to lose them.
This picture shows how this Family left.....broken dreams, not caring, just wanting to get out. They took some things, and left many others. Who were these people, and how could they leave such a mess.
As REALTORS® we see the best of people, and we see the worst. These are tough times for many, and I don't know about you, but I am not here to judge anyone. Yes, I might not like their behavior, or the mess that some people leave for others to clean up, but I don't know the family. I don't know the mental anguish, maybe anger at a lack of resources that some people feel when they lose their homes.
I will have someone change the locks, and clean-up the mess. I will do my job to get the house ready to go back on the Market, that is all any of us can do. But I will not Judge this Family.....they live in my town. I don't know their circumstances.
I just know that they lost their Home.......They lost the one place where a child had put his picture on the Fireplace, and was waiting for the Magic of the Holidays, and the Christmas Ornament that will be thrown away, tossed on the floor of the house they no longer own.
Yes, I will do my job......... but I cannot put a Value on a Home, just the House.
By: Kathy McGraw - CELLing Realty
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