Banks Not Even Bothering To Take Posession Of Foreclosures

Too many, too much trouble.

Lenders’ actions show they think properties are not worth pursuing

"Nobody is sure exactly how many bank walkaways are occurring. For various reasons, they can’t be identified in searches of public real estate and court data without individually pulling case files, experts say.
But nobody questions that they are on the increase.
David Rothstein, a researcher with Policy Matters Ohio, summarized the way they occur like this:
• The lender files a foreclosure, gets the foreclosure judgment in court, takes the property to sheriff’s auction but doesn’t bid on it if no one else does.
• The lender files as above, gets the judgment, sets the sheriff’s auction, then cancels the sale at the last minute.
• The lender files as above but then never requests a sheriff’s auction.
• The lender doesn’t even bother to file foreclosure.
All of these actions leave the foreclosed property in the hands of the original owner who, in many cases, has moved out and is unaware the lender hasn’t taken it."