Information on empty houses

[judylou]

We live on a very nice street in Silver Lake but there are two houses that are empty, one is a foreclosure and the other is a reverse mortgage. No one is taking care of them at all. I can't even imagine what the inside looks like but I was wondering if our neighborhood could get together and clean up the yards, wash the awnings, etc.
Does anyone know who we contact to find out why nothing is being done with these houses. Nasty houses bring down the entire neighborhood. I really feel if these houses were south of 466 someone would be taking care of them.

[Bogie Shooter]

We live on a very nice street in Silver Lake but there are two houses that are empty, one is a foreclosure and the other is a reverse mortgage. No one is taking care of them at all. I can't even imagine what the inside looks like but I was wondering if our neighborhood could get together and clean up the yards, wash the awnings, etc.
Does anyone know who we contact to find out why nothing is being done with these houses. Nasty houses bring down the entire neighborhood. I really feel if these houses were south of 466 someone would be taking care of them.

First a complaint has to be made, then there is a process to bring a property in compliance with deed restrictions.
Here is the place to call to get the status of the properties.

Community Standards
Phone: 352-751-3912
Fax: 352-751-6707
Here is the web site for information on Community standards.

VCDD Community Standards (http://www.districtgov.org/departments/Community-Standards/community-standards.aspx)

[ttown]

We have a house in our very nice neighborhood that has been abandoned for three years.Several of us have called repeatedly . They will whack down the lawn, but the bushes have never been touched . The house is covered with mildew...what you can see. Is there a next step?

[mfp509]

We have the same thing in Calumet Grove. Two villas in our neighborhood are run down and dragging the rest of us down. Complaints to Community Standards have been made. Guess all the interest is in Brownwood now.

[gomoho]

Confirms my thoughts TV is not keeping the area north of 466 up to snuff. You can see it in the public areas i.e, landscaping, roads, etc. How long before north of 466A gets the same treatment when the focus turns to the Brownwood area? Would like to see all of TV kept beautiful - not just where there is money to be made.

[mulligan]

Have you also contacted your district representatives to voice your concerns ?

[Bogie Shooter]

We have the same thing in Calumet Grove. Two villas in our neighborhood are run down and dragging the rest of us down. Complaints to Community Standards have been made. Guess all the interest is in Brownwood now.

What has Community Standards said about the status of the Villas??

[mfp509]

In Calumet Grove, the two villas are supposedly in the banks possession now but I don't understand why the banks are not forced to keep up our standards.

[Pturner]

Confirms my thoughts TV is not keeping the area north of 466 up to snuff. You can see it in the public areas i.e, landscaping, roads, etc. How long before north of 466A gets the same treatment when the focus turns to the Brownwood area? Would like to see all of TV kept beautiful - not just where there is money to be made.

Hi Gomoho,
Roads north of 466 have been paved recently and landscaping in much of the North side appears to be maintained. Could you be more specific about where north of 466 you have seen roads and public landscaping that have been neglected?

Thanks much.

[graciegirl]

In older neighborhoods, more upkeep is needed. It takes a houseproud owner to do everything to maintain a home.. Standards can only do so much, i.e. cut the grass etc.

Owned by a bank is it's own can of worms. You don't see much of it, but if it is on your street....it must be very disappointing and particularly if you are trying to sell your home.

When we were selling ours in Cincy, I snuck up the street and mowed a lawn of a home that was in short sale.

[lovesports]

I stumbled in on a POA meeting(at Laurel Manor where I was going to exercise about a month or two ago)) with horror stories about these empty houses being on the street or next door. Janet Tuff was trying to placate people but some in the audience had done everything she said and got no results. They were mad. She tried to say there was no money to cut lawns etc. until the home sells. Many empty homes seemed to be villas. No one was happy with the run-around. Some have rats etc living in these weeds for years and people want to get off the street, of course no one would buy on a street with a house with a varmint infested, overgrown yard, no one living there for years- home. These homes will never sell. And your right, they are out of sight for the most part.
When Janet left, people followed her out with pictures and their frustration at nothing being done. Seems to be a growing problem.
I know the very posters who think it is perfect here and will have a fit with this post. I won't be home until tonight to check this board. But unless you have a vacant home in your neighborhood or go to POA meetings, you don't know what is going on. This is a very big place with many thousands 0f homes. I live on a great street in a great village south of 466, I went to one of the courtyard villas named and I couldn't believe it. Weeds high as 6 ft. No maintenance for 5 years, So folks, they are out there, and I feel for the neighbors.

[graciegirl]

I stumbled in on a POA meeting(at Laurel Manor where I was going to exercise about a month or two ago)) with horror stories about these empty houses being on the street or next door. Janet Tuff was trying to placate people but some in the audience had done everything she said and got no results. They were mad. She tried to say there was no money to cut lawns etc. until the home sells. Many empty homes seemed to be villas. No one was happy with the run-around. Some have rats etc living in these weeds for years and people want to get off the street, of course no one would buy on a street with a house with a varmint infested, overgrown yard, no one living there for years- home. These homes will never sell. And your right, they are out of sight for the most part.
When Janet left, people followed her out with pictures and their frustration at nothing being done. Seems to be a growing problem.
I know the very posters who think it is perfect here and will have a fit with this post. I won't be home until tonight to check this board. But unless you have a vacant home in your neighborhood or go to POA meetings, you don't know what is going on. This is a very big place with many thousands 0f homes. I live on a great street in a great village south of 466, I went to one of the courtyard villas named and I couldn't believe it. Weeds high as 6 ft. No maintenance for 5 years, So folks, they are out there, and I feel for the neighbors.


You are right. Some of us are always "for" and some of us are always "against".

And some problems don't have easy solutions.

I'd say, as I always do, that this place has a better handle on issues like these than anyplace I have seen.

Even the most upscale neighborhoods across this country suffer is some ways from short sales.

I think we have far less here than anywhere else.

Janet Tutt needs to be canonized.

[BobKat1]

I find this discussion very interesting. We are coming down soon and always do a lot of sightseeing. We plan to look around in the areas being mentioned.

I've always been curious how the older neighborhoods will fare as people get older and move on or pass away etc. Those neighborhoods are nice with larger lots and mature landscaping, but I've wondered if new residents will tend to buy new construction or newer resale homes.

[gomoho]

Hi Gomoho,
Roads north of 466 have been paved recently and landscaping in much of the North side appears to be maintained. Could you be more specific about where north of 466 you have seen roads and public landscaping that have been neglected?

Thanks much.

My experience is pretty much limited to taking Morse to Rio Grande to get to La Plaza Grande. So that is what I am seeing - I've seen perfecty good roads repaved south of 466 and beds changed out every 6 weeks. Don't see any of that going on in the limited area I travel, but would like to see those folks getting the beauty treatment as well.

[gomoho]

You are right. Some of us are always "for" and some of us are always "against".

And some problems don't have easy solutions.

I'd say, as I always do, that this place has a better handle on issues like these than anyplace I have seen.

Even the most upscale neighborhoods across this country suffer is some ways from short sales.

I think we have far less here than anywhere else.

Janet Tutt needs to be canonized.


Okay, I'll bite - who is Janet Tutt???

[graciegirl]

My experience is pretty much limited to taking Morse to Rio Grande to get to La Plaza Grande. So that is what I am seeing - I've seen perfecty good roads repaved south of 466 and beds changed out every 6 weeks. Don't see any of that going on in the limited area I travel, but would like to see those folks getting the beauty treatment as well.

This morning as we were driving up Buena Vista north of 466 to the Savannah Center to play Bocce, they were changing out the flowers. I love that about this place.

[Posh 08]

This morning as we were driving up Buena Vista north of 466 to the Savannah Center to play Bocce, they were changing out the flowers. I love that about this place.

As I was reading your post about changing out the flowers I heard the "jingle" playing. Thought for a moment that your post was inspiring me to hear that pesky little tune. Oh wait. It was on Fox News. :loco:

[ttown]

This is not a Village knock. We have owned here happily since '98. It is simply frustration at having a neighborhood run down by abandoned houses. There seems to be no solution.

[Bogie Shooter]

I think The Villages should clean them up and bill the banks or put a lien on the property.

[Bogie Shooter]

Okay, I'll bite - who is Janet Tutt???

Village Community Development Districts (Main Office)
3201 Wedgewood Lane
The Villages, FL 32162
Phone: (352) 751-3939
Fax: (352) 753-6430

Janet Y. Tutt, District Manager
janet.tutt@districtgov.org

Brittany Wilson, Executive Assistant
brittany.wilson@districtgov.org

Judy Kemp, Administrative Assistant
judy.kemp@districtgov.org

Helen Sullivan, Administrative Assistant
helen.sullivan@districtgov.org

Village Community Development Districts (Laurel Manor Office)
1894 Laurel Manor Drive
The Villages, FL 32162
Phone: (352) 751-6700
Fax: (352) 751-6707

Diane Tucker, Administrative Operations Manager
diane.tucker@districtgov.org

Bernadette Nataline, Administrative Operations Coordinator
bernadette.nataline@districtgov.org

Diana Easley, Secretary/Receptionist

Contact Us
Business Hours:
8am to 5pm, EST
Monday – Friday
Excluding Holidays

[Bill Tasker]

I actually have been involved in several foreclosures and short sales here in Maryland and can tell you from personal experience that some banks are cooperative but most are not when it comes to cleaning up residential properties. I have more success with credit unions who come into possession. In some cases I have seen the neighborhood association clean up the property and place a lien against the title along with the unpaid association dues. In other cases the county (when notified) will clean the property and place a lien on the title. In the neighborhood where I live we have had a few foreclosures and the neighboring homeowners keep the grass and shrubs trimed to keep the appearance up for the sake of us all.

[butterfly sue]

We had a foreclosed house next to us. Called Warranty up who referred us elsewhere. They will force the bank to do the bare minimum of cutting the grass and that is it. The neighbors went over and cleaned up the overgrown bushes themselves. Just did the front as they were sick of looking at it. No one stopped them or said anything, so go to it.

[Mack184]

I think The Villages should clean them up and bill the banks or put a lien on the property.

Once a home has been repossesed by a financial institution things get pretty dicey when it comes to fulfilling deed restrictions and the various & sundry "community rules". Almost always the family that owned the house is in bankruptcy, which means that the developer hasn't a ghost of a chance of recovering any sort of costs involved with things like lawn mowing or upkeep. If the bank wants to play along & keep everything up it can, but for the most part it can pretty much tell the developer to stick it if they don't want to go along. Liens levied by the developer will almost always get thrown out in court when push comes to shove if the house finally gets sold.

When we first started looking into available properties in TV & the surrounding communities we were shocked to find out how many homes in TV were on the market as Short-Sales, Pre-Foreclosures & Full-Foreclosures. That was a real stunner.

If you have an empty home in your neighborhood, you can certainly make your wishes & concerns to the developer known, but also know this, they are rather limited in their recourse to collect from the former owners or the holding bank for upkeep. They pretty much have to shoulder the costs all out of their own pockets if they choose to do so.

[jane032657]

I operate (well until end of October) the largest foreclosure counseling program in Washington State as well as the Statewide foreclosure hotline. The banks do very little to care for homes in distress nor do they have empathy for the economics of the remainder of the neighborhoods. In fact many banks are holding on to these properties on their books and not releasing them for sale until the market picks up. I have been to many neighborhoods with homes scattered that are short sales or that have been foreclosed. It is a travesty to the rest of the neighbors to have so much neglect when they care so meticulously for their own homes. My best suggestion is to get a neighborhood action team and spend a day or two at least beautifying the outside for your own peace of mind, not that you should have to, but the banks will not step up and it sounds like the district will not step up either. When I get there, I would join in a work day to help out a neighborhood to clean things up and I bet lots of others would too. We do it here to help people in crisis through a non profit group and we beautify properties of those who cannot. We can do the same as neighbor to neighbor and donate some personal time to make a difference where there are distressed properties. It is amazing what ten to twenty people can do in a day. That is what community is. It is the bigger picture, not just our own microcosm.

[rjm1cc]

I actually have been involved in several foreclosures and short sales here in Maryland and can tell you from personal experience that some banks are cooperative but most are not when it comes to cleaning up residential properties. I have more success with credit unions who come into possession. In some cases I have seen the neighborhood association clean up the property and place a lien against the title along with the unpaid association dues. In other cases the county (when notified) will clean the property and place a lien on the title. In the neighborhood where I live we have had a few foreclosures and the neighboring homeowners keep the grass and shrubs trimed to keep the appearance up for the sake of us all.I guess the answer is if you live next to the home it might be best to cut the grass and bushes and home by keeping the home nicer someone will buy it.

[2-crazy]

Here I thought the Property Owners Association (POA) was responsible for enforcing neighborhood rules. Apparently I was wrong, its the neighbors.

[graciegirl]

Here I thought the Property Owners Association (POA) was responsible for enforcing neighborhood rules. Apparently I was wrong, its the neighbors.

In a foreclosure they can only do so much, here, (Which I think is the best run place I have ever lived), there, or anywhere.

We lived in one of the nicer suburbs of Cincinnati and never thought that foreclosure business would touch us. Unfortunatly it is a blight everywhere in this country.

When we had our house on the market last year, I personally cut the grass and trimmed the bushes of a foreclosure down the street. We had a property owners association that always made people jump through hoops but it was powerless to force a bank owned property to do anything.

Jane, who is in this business, and understands just what CAN be done about foreclosed properties, just wrote an excellent post, above.

[ssmith]

....Doesn't the Citizens bank of TV own a good majority of the mortgages? or is the worst offender areas before this bank was in existance? Seems TV and Janet Tutt would have some power over that bank?

I am watching this one with much interest...I am sure you creative, smart and resourceful TV folks will come up with a solution.

[graciegirl]

....Doesn't the Citizens bank of TV own a good majority of the mortgages? or is the worst offender areas before this bank was in existance? Seems TV and Janet Tutt would have some power over that bank?

I am watching this one with much interest...I am sure you creative, smart and resourceful TV folks will come up with a solution.

You know if that were true and some of the homes that are derelict are now owned by Citizens bank that is owned by the developer, and Citizens Bank was NOT taking care of their bank owned properties,--- that would be like shooting yourself in the foot.

My guess is that "they" wouldn't allow that to happen. Just because "they" have such a proven track record in other areas.

NO. I don't work for the Morses.

No. I don't know the Morses.

I am just a satisfied observer and extremely happy villager.

[Bogie Shooter]

....Doesn't the Citizens bank of TV own a good majority of the mortgages? or is the worst offender areas before this bank was in existance? Seems TV and Janet Tutt would have some power over that bank?

I am watching this one with much interest...I am sure you creative, smart and resourceful TV folks will come up with a solution.

I agree with Gracie's response on this post, however, Janet Tutt has nothing to do with Citizens Bank.

[mulligan]

As far as the POA is concerned, it is a watchdog organization, and has nothing to do with enforcing anything. there is no mandatory membership in either the POA, or the HOA. This is why we purchased here. Association run developments can really turn into disasters.

[cathyw]

I operate (well until end of October) the largest foreclosure counseling program in Washington State as well as the Statewide foreclosure hotline. The banks do very little to care for homes in distress nor do they have empathy for the economics of the remainder of the neighborhoods. In fact many banks are holding on to these properties on their books and not releasing them for sale until the market picks up. I have been to many neighborhoods with homes scattered that are short sales or that have been foreclosed. It is a travesty to the rest of the neighbors to have so much neglect when they care so meticulously for their own homes. My best suggestion is to get a neighborhood action team and spend a day or two at least beautifying the outside for your own peace of mind, not that you should have to, but the banks will not step up and it sounds like the district will not step up either. When I get there, I would join in a work day to help out a neighborhood to clean things up and I bet lots of others would too. We do it here to help people in crisis through a non profit group and we beautify properties of those who cannot. We can do the same as neighbor to neighbor and donate some personal time to make a difference where there are distressed properties. It is amazing what ten to twenty people can do in a day. That is what community is. It is the bigger picture, not just our own microcosm.

Hi Jane,
If you can get something like this organized in TV, I would love to participate.

[ttown]

The house in our neighborhood has been empty for over three years. The grass has been cut...or the weeds...after every call to Community Standards. The bushes would require ladder climbing. The house is covered with mold. I hate to think of the inside. There are multiple notices in or near the door. The house next door is for sale and hasn't been sold. It's otherwise a very nice neighborhood.