In the last week I've been in at least 15 bank owned properties. Of these, 3 really stuck out in my mind. What was so special about those 3? They had been damaged by the previous owner prior to the bank taking back the properties.

You see the banks had kicked out the owners and taken back the property in foreclosure. So, to get even, before they completely moved out, the sellers removed all the appliances and then took a sledgehammer to the property, along with wire cutters, pipe cutters and saws, and went to town on these homes.

These homes were completely destroyed and you could tell this was done within hours of the sellers moving out because everything else looked spotless, including the carpet, except for the saw marks made by a rotating saw. But, when they were done, the windows were broken, pipes cut, wires ripped out and the house looked more like a drug house than a home.

But, my question is, can the banks go back after these people for vandalism? Since it was their property prior to the courts taking the home back in foreclosure, could they do whatever they wanted with the home? What if their choice was to destroy the home to get even with the bank that now has a property that is clearly worth $50,000 - $70,000 less than it had been 48 hours prior?

Now, I don't agree with what these people have done with these properties, but at the same time a lot of these peoples have tried to do a short sale and sell the home but the banks wouldn't cooperate and just waited for the foreclosure to happen. They now feel the banks have ruined their credit and this is their revenge on the banks.

Is there anything we can do to help the banks prior to a foreclosure to assure that things like this don't happen to the homes they take back or is this just something we are going to have to deal with?

Todd Clark and the Friendly Home Team
Knipe Realty
Todd@IFoundYourNewHome.com
Phone: (503)524-9494
Fax: (503)622-8739

 

 

 I am a licensed Realtor who specializes in Washington County, Oregon and also work in both Clackamas and Multnomah Counties including the cities of Aloha, Beaverton, Canby, Clackamas, Gladstone, Gresham, Happy Valley, Hillsboro, Milwaukie, Oregon City, Sherwood and Tigard.
All information contained in these posts are copyrighted and cannot be used without prior written approval authorization from the author me Todd Clark. If you are looking for an outstanding agent please give me a call I would love to help you with all your real estate needs.

 

What if there was a way you could search the MLS for FREE just like Realtors

Now you can access the MLS using similar tools as Realtors. You are in control of what you want to search for, and you can search the MLS at your leisure. The information you submit in the form below can also be used to put you on an automated system where you'll be emailed all homes that meet your search criteria. You'll get internet access to a website that includes pictures, prices, and addresses to real estate that's listed in the MLS!

Click here to start your FREE home search now