Fueled by Occupy Wall Street, a nationwide anti-foreclosure movement is gripping the country. The anti-foreclosure movement is an attempt to highlight the housing crisis by publicly moving homeless families into vacant foreclosed properties (squatting), disrupting foreclosure actions and challenging big banks.
Several organizations, including Organizing for Occupation (O4O), Take back the Land, and Occupy Our Homes, have supported, encouraged and facilitated this recent anti-foreclosure movement. The intent is to defend foreclosed homeowners from eviction and give the homeless a place to live.
Staggering unemployment coupled with a weak job market; soaring increase of foreclosures, vacant houses and rising rents plus the visibility of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators have all fueled the anti-foreclosure rise in squatting. It is difficult to accurately identify the total number of squatters as most avoid publicity. However, if the number of different organizations springing up is any indication, the squatting movement is rapidly growing. An Occupy Your Home movement created a petition December 3, 2011 requesting the Obama administration to “place a moratorium on ALL foreclosures of homeowners belonging to the bottom 99%.” They are looking for 25,000 signatures to get the petition on the “WE the PEOPLE” website by January 2012.
November 30, Occupy Wall Street LA camp was dismantled resulting in almost 300 arrests. As a result, Los Angeles Police Department held a seminar for local area Real Estate Brokers and Agents. They handed out a “Trespass Arrest Affidavit” to attendees. The affidavit is to be completed for each vacant foreclosure, posted at the property and the original returned to the local police station. It is an attempt to help the property owner avoid a lengthy eviction of an unauthorized occupant or squatter, which can take several months.
What's In Store For The Mortgage and Housing Markets In 2012
Banks, already targets of Occupy Wall Street criticism, are moving to quickly develop policy on how best to handle ‘squatting’ situations in bank-owned foreclosure properties. For example, Chase bank recently instructed its listing Real Estate Brokers to increase inspection of foreclosed homes and immediately report any unlawful entry to the bank. All vacant properties are now subject to bi-weekly inspections in particular areas of the country. These areas include:
Atlanta
Chicago
Minneapolis
Portland
State of New York
State of California
Chase Legal has asked Brokers not to use the LA Police Department’s Trespass Arrest Form.
Andee Allen is freelance writer, Real Estate Investor, Business Coach/Consultant, and California Realtor (License #01854926). You are welcome to contact Andee at andeeallen@gmail.com or on her website http://www.andeeallen.com
Image source of a Foreclosed Home: Wikipedia
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Comments
#1 Mortgage Refinance
It is very tough to get mortgage refinance these days especially major banks. It is not a secret every one knows, what is the solution? Check our your local guys or check online for 123 Refinance they should be able to find a solution for you.
#2 Really?
In truth, many banks have in fact been holding back on foreclosures in an attempt to limit or minimize flooding the market with more homes, which would collectively further devalue them.
And, in truth, many of the foreclosed homes that are being 'occupied' by squatters are drug dealers looking to avoid law enforcement... Banks are certainly no saints, however, no need to further demonize them with misinformation.
Occupy protests are nothing more than an extension of the left and in and of themselves, are criminal in nature. It's all about accepting personal responsibility and resisting the national trend of always finding someone else to blame for our problems... instead of looking in the mirror and making a commitment toward personal improvement.
#3 Really?
Mike channeling Fox News over there. In three short paragraphs, you've completely destroyed your credibility.
1st paragraph: They are withholding properties to prevent them from being properly valued. This goes against laissez-faire (free market/mark to market economics) and is proof of collusion and should be prosecuted under RICO statutes.
2nd paragraph: in truth? whose truth? Your's? Pull your head out of your ass and volunteer in an inner city instead of lumping desperate people into the "criminal" class. Also, misinformation? I suppose that's what facts are called nowdays.
3rd paragraph: is is just vitriol and rhetoric. Please get an opinion of your own based on facts and figures, not black/white easy to speak "bumper sticker politics".
I am a firm believer in discourse and reason, don't bring your faith to a truth fight, you'll only embarrass yourself. (again)
#4 Classic 'liberal/progressive'
Classic 'liberal/progressive' response & mentality. Immediately resort to personal attacks and avoid the discussion/issue. I've had all I can take of liberal/progressive thinking and have concluded you are more about the satisfaction of a personal attack than you are about improving the world around you. I say, God Bless you and hope you some day see the light of truth... Fox News has nothing to do with my response. Lastly, your mention of 'credibility' is like the pot calling the kettle black. Inner cities are part of the problem. Criminality has nothing to do with desperation... it's about values, either you have them or you don't.... I suggest you get some.
Oh yes, one more thing.... I never met a lib/progressive that had enough nads to leave their first & last names on a post... I know you guys like your anonymity to avoid accountability... Grow a pair, then you're entitled to an opinion.