Link Roundup

San Diego may soon join Chicago in its quest to fine banks that allow foreclosed homes to deteriorate.

S&P says it will take 46 months to clear out all of the “shadow inventory” that continues to plague the US housing market.

Frederic Alan Gladle, of Austin, Texas, was sentenced earlier this month to 61 months in Federal prison for his role in a mortgage relief scam that netted him over $1.5 million.

Mary Anne Dean, of Severna Park, MD was sentenced to 37 months in prison for her role in a mortgage fraud scheme that stripped homeowners of $1.2 million in home equity.

A former San Diego police officer and his wife have been accused  of trashing their home, after the home went into foreclosure.  The couple allegedly caused over $160,000 in damage.

Five common mortgage scams — don’t let these happen to you!

Reader-Submitted Blight: 4817 Arabia Avenue

Thanks to “Reader RJW” for the photo and info!

Property Address:  4817 Arabia Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21214

Property Owner:  Lamont Lewis, same address.

City Council District and Contact:  District 3, Robert Curran

4817 Arabia Avenue

Very odd, this home.  If you look at the picture in Google Street View, it was once a lovely little cottage with a well-tended yard.  The law firm of Bierman, Geesing, Ward & Wood, LLC filed to foreclose on this home in 2010, yet the case was dismissed in 2011.  Perhaps the owner has abandoned the home, and has left it in this condition?

Link Roundup

Oh boo hoo!  Maryland property managers think it’s too much to pay what amounts to $4 a month for lead paint insurance.  Seems to me it’s cheaper than a multi-million dollar lawsuit.

Ohio’s Attorney General designated part of the mortgage lawsuit settlement towards demolishing vacants.  Some say this money should go to homeowners — what do you think?

A California State Senator has introduced a bill that would prohibit landlords in that state from requiring tenants to pay rent via online methods only.

Mayor Rawlings-Blake announces “Get Fresh Lexington” — an initiative to improve healthy food choices at Lexington Market.  Hopefully she also has a strategy for making Lexington Market a safe, pleasant place to shop.  Nobody should have to shove through a sea of junkies, drug dealers, and panhandlers in order to visit the market.  Also, this should be implemented at all of our public markets.

Interesting article about Milwaukee — Property owners as stewards of a community’s vision.  Property owners can be a catalyst and driving force behind the preservation and renewal of neighborhoods.

Cleveland advocates propose an interesting idea to solving the vacant problem:  offer vacant homes to refugees.

Prince George’s County is dealing with a decline in federal funding for foreclosure prevention and community development programs.

 

Link Roundup

It will be interesting to see how much money is earned on the auction of Baltimore Housing Authority property.  Glad to see someone is fighting to make the agency pay its lead paint settlements.

It’s always fun to read posts or letters in the Baltimore Sun from bad property owners who feel the laws and regulations are unfair.  Perhaps doing the right thing would make things more fair?  Just a suggestion.  And for the record, no, we don’t think the City should be using funds for affordable housing to demolish…housing.

A man in Cleveland decided to shoot a documentary about abandoned homes in that city, as a way to create awareness about the problem.

Apparently, people in Monterey County, California can’t agree on what “homeless” means. I didn’t know there were any grey areas.

The town council of Sheboygan, Wisconsin, is smarter than the Baltimore City government.  “A significant relationship exists between vacant buildings and increased calls for service for police services, higher incidence of fires …”  Wish someone in our City Council would publicly say that, and do something about it.

An Ohio Senator wants banks to stop walking away from foreclosures.  Do any Maryland senators want the same?

Link Roundup

Camden Crossing development lots go into foreclosure, hit the auction block in December, the Baltimore Business Journal reports. Backstory on Camden Crossing — the environmental issues are truly frightening. (Link opens a PDF)

Also in the BBJ, Baltimore City median home prices fell in 2011 to $82,000. Houses are selling faster, but they’re selling cheaper — a sign that desperate sellers are ready to flee?

Federal funding for rehabbing vacants – should it go to investors, nonprofits, or homeowners?

NYT Opinion piece — The Death of the Fringe Suburb

Baltimore Sun Op-Ed - Overdue Justice for Lead Paint Victims

Vacant houses as art, in Cleveland.

 

Link Roundup

Baltimore landlord pleads guilty in lead paint case.  Called a “habitual offender” by Ruth Ann Norton, Executive Director of the Coalition to End Childhood Lead Poisoning, we hope this slumlord receives jail time — and other slumlords take notice.  We’d also like to point out — this slumlord has received money from HABC, and has been jailed before…perhaps the courts need to send a stronger message to bad property owners.

It would seem incompetence and dishonesty aren’t unique to Baltimore’s Housing Authority — a former San Antonio area Housing Authority employee pleaded guilty to embezzling over $20,000 from the agency.

Vacant lot where serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer once lived will be turned into green space.

Group alleges housing discrimination in Baltimore County.

Interesting approach to force banks to clean up their blighted foreclosures in Buffalo, NY.  Great idea…maybe they’ll start a blog to go along with their sign campaign!

Salisbury (MD) government adopts a “three-strikes” policy, which requires landlords to pay the city after three verified police calls at one property.  We’d love to see Baltimore adopt a similar ordinance.

Philadelphia woman takes owners of vacants to task — in a big way.

Link Roundup

Lots of lawsuit links this week!

A Federal judge has given the go-ahead for a couple of lawsuits against Wells Fargo, including Baltimore City’s.  As you may recall, Baltimore City had a hard time getting its act together, and their initial lawsuit was dismissed by Judge Motz.  Then another one was denied.I would say maybe the third time’s a charm for Charm City…except the third lawsuit was also dismissed, and the current one is actually the fourth.

For you policy nerds, Brookings has released a new report on strategies for reclaiming vacant land/property as a way to kickstart economic growth.  Another way to deal with blight is to erect a giant ferris wheel and pray people can’t see around it.

Banks and lawyers aren’t playing nice-nice, so some foreclosures are in limbo, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Another one for the housing policy nerds among you — there are lots of nasty buildings in the Bronx, and there’s a report to prove it.

Speaking of lawyers and banks not playing nice-nice…the DOJ is suing Deutsche Bank.  So is the City of Los Angeles.  Can’t we just all get along?

One person who’s probably not a fan of lawyers these days — the former director of the Havre de Grace Housing Authority.  It would seem he got a little loosey-goosey with the HA’s cash, and bribed contractors.

If you’re looking for a new job, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition is looking for a Development Assistant.  You might want to hurry up and apply, because the national unemployment rate just went back up to 9%.

If you’re a fan of street art you’ll want to check out this new installation by Gaia, Nanook, and Sebastian Martorana — “Succession”, Monday May 16, 5PM to 7:30PM — 307 W. Baltimore Street.  (Link goes to a Facebook event page).

Upcoming Workshop for Tenants in Foreclosure

The Public Justice Center in Baltimore will be holding a workshop on December 14th for tenants who live in properties that are in foreclosure.  You can get more details here. (Link opens a PDF flier).

They also have a brochure and other links pertaining to tenants in foreclosure here.  You do have rights — make sure they’re protected!

2801 Orleans Street

Property Address:  2801 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21224

Property Owner:  Nathan and April Jones, same address

City Council District and Contact:  District 13, Warren Branch

The city filed a Foreclosure Right of Redemption against this property in October 2007 and was awarded the right to foreclose in March 2010.

2801 Orleans Street

Trash in the rear of 2801 Orleans Street

2081 Orleans Street, rear

211 N. Streeper Street

Property Address:  211 N. Streeper Street, Baltimore, MD 21224

Property Owner:  Nii Okai Parbey, 8505 Old Georgetown Road, Bethesda, MD 20814

City Council District and Contact:  District 13, Warren Branch

This property, along with another property located a few blocks down (227 N Lakewood Ave) are in foreclosure.

211 N. Streeper

211 N. Streeper, rear. Note the open window at the top right.

Trash at the rear of 211 N. Streeper

More trash at the rear of 211 N. Streeper