Terry, sounds like the damage was intentional.  Disappointing to hear you are seeing an increase in these homes.

They need to make the Seller pay for all the damage or missing items from the home. I have seen kitchen cabinets taken, A/C units gone, and worse.

Terry -

In the grip of despair, many become different people.

Perhaps we need to re-think our national mantra - "EVERYONE deserves to be a homeowner!"

On the bright side, think of what a new owner can do - he can purchase a home at a deeply discounted price, take some "before" pictures, and, with guts, persistence, and money - make it a real home!

Sign of the times, I guess!

DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO

Good morning Terry,

Like Richard, I've seen houses that leave you dumbstruck when you walk in!  It's so refreshing to show a "regular resale" house these days ~ one that the sellers take pride in owning and clean on a regular basis.

I show foreclosed properties just about every day and some of them are not fit for human habitation.  The most heartbreaking part of this entire mess is when you see little kid's bedrooms in the filth.  Where are those kids once the house has been stripped?

Terry:  The good news is often the damage in these homes is superficial and with a good rehab crew and a few $$$, you can have these houses back to tip-top shape in no time!  I work mostly with investors that LOVE to find deals like this and they either flip them or make them cash flowing rentals in a few days!

If there was some kind of lasting financial penalty for this kind of damage, I'm sure it would be greatly reduced.  A foreclosure is done and over with at some point.  But what about an automatic reduction from future paychecks for intentional, aggravated damage?  Just a thought....

People's lives have been torn apart and they feel out of control.  Having a "nest" and a secure place to live is important.  For some people the only control they have in the end is what they leave behind when the close the door to leave that home. ~ Evelyn

Terry I looked at a few homes on Marco Island here in FL last fall that were the same, these were waterfront canal homes that had been purchased for just under a 1M at the peak, Frankly I was surprised that upscale buyers would trash a home when foreclosed on, but I guess it could have also been vandalism.