The Upkeep of Forclosed Homes

It's an unfortunate case that has plagued the nation — folks having to leave their homes after they are foreclosed.

As Paula Martino, University Park's code enforcement officer, reported at an , some homeowners have left their homes with everything in them including clothes and furniture.

But after months of being abandoned, many of these homes start looking that way, as described earlier this month. Grass grows high, gutters become loose and the home once filled with happy neighbors is now an eyesore.

Furthermore, the unkempt home can have an affect on the value of your home, too.

So what can you do?

Martino said that University Park residents can report a disheveled looking home to town hall, whether or not it's foreclosed.

"We've been lucky that with our close proximity to the university, many properties have been transformed into rentals," she said, noting that she's not sure of how many foreclosures there are in town.

Martino said the town will hand out warnings and can even go out and fix up the property themselves, but will place a lien on the property tax of the home for the service.

Colleen Ferguson, code enforcement officer for Riverdale Park, said the town is currently monitoring 46 vacant/foreclosed properties in town.  Ferguson said they are looking for code violations.

"When a home is in foreclosure, the bank contracts a company to winterize and secure the property," she said.

The bank contractor will usually post their information on the property, Ferguson added, so residents can contact the contractor directly. However if the contractor cannot get to the home, residents can call the town's code enforcement at 240-898-2500.

But Smith spoke about taking the upkeep into his own hands. Although it's technically trespassing to go onto a property not owned by yourself, Martino said she knows of folks that mow their neighbors' yards even if it's a foreclosed home.