| The grim specter of foreclosure looms large over | | | | have lost their homes? Communities are being |
| America. The popular media continues to report | | | | dissolved and the long-term social impact is |
| on the number of homes being lost, and the | | | | potentially catastrophic. |
| volume of empty properties now littering our | | | | Perhaps it is time to focus more on attempts to |
| suburbs and city streets. The economic effects | | | | keep people in their homes, rather than to |
| are terrifying. Foreclosure is one 'F-word', that | | | | continually highlight the devastating increase in the |
| nobody wants to hear. | | | | number of discarded properties. There is a |
| But what about the thousands of once-proud | | | | multitude of reasons as to why people are having |
| home owners? The human cost too, is | | | | to abandon their homes, and there are a number |
| unimaginable and, largely, being swept under the | | | | of ways to allow them to stay, in order to |
| carpet. Of course, there may be the occasional, | | | | preserve the social fabric and retain economic |
| ratings-grabbing, heart-rending tale of a decent, | | | | balance. After all, a glut of empty houses in any |
| middle class family losing their prized home in a | | | | one neighborhood, will almost certainly result in |
| popular subdivision, through no fault of their own. | | | | depressed local property values. This, in turn, |
| Then, on the flip side, there is a fair amount of | | | | causes something of a domino effect, which |
| coverage given to those abandoned properties | | | | impacts severely on everyone's hard earned |
| that have had their fixtures and fittings ripped | | | | equity. |
| out, and thousands of dollars worth of damage | | | | For many it is too late, and their dream home |
| inflicted upon them by the vindictive, departing | | | | now stands empty; a testament to these testing |
| residents. And, many column inches and editorial | | | | times. It is essential that we find a way of quickly |
| leads have highlighted the distressing plight of | | | | repopulating these deserted houses, and rebuilding |
| deserted pets, left behind by callous owners | | | | communities. Unfortunately, buying a foreclosed |
| fleeing their responsibilities. But rarely is there | | | | property can be something of a headache, and |
| mention of the human cost. What of the anguish | | | | can take considerable time, but there are |
| being suffered by the vast majority of people, | | | | experienced professionals who can help steer |
| who are struggling to keep their heads above the | | | | purchasers through the process. The quicker we |
| floodwater of debt and despair? No jobs, families | | | | get people back into these houses, whether as |
| torn apart, few prospects. What kind of effect | | | | long-term tenants or owners, the better it will be |
| will this have on the children of these families who | | | | for the nation and, more importantly, its people. |