Why do abandoned houses exist? What’s the usual reason people just leave and never return?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live next to two. One, the mom died and people inherited it. The other, a tree fell and and damaged the roof. The tenant moved out. The landlord doesn’t have the cash to repair it.

They own a home without basic insurance??

I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if they got cash and didn’t use it on repairs.

Wow. Lots of sketchy people.

OP, sometimes the family just leaves the property rot- they are holding out for as much money as possible. Think about it - if they are one of the original owners, maybe bought in McLean (for example) in the 1960’s - they probably paid about $30k back then. Now, the property might be worth over a million , for land alone- they are just going to let it sit there as long as possible. Worst that can happen, the county might get complaints about vermin or long grass. Sucks for the neighbors, especially if they have multi million dollar properties.

They must be paying the property taxes which would be over $5000 per year on a $500000 house.

[Anonymous]

I inherited my fathers house in another state when he died. It’s going to be a huge emotional and physical task to sell it. For now it sits empty.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've worked in elder law and see a lot of people aging out of their homes, which remain vacant while they're living and in a facility or wherever ... and then by the time family inherit it, it's fallen into severe disrepair, and they can't afford or aren't inclined to fix it up, but hang onto it for sentimental reasons or because they won't accept a reasonable market price based on its condition.

See this frequently in Arlington. Eventually one of the heirs wants or needs the money and cajoles the others into selling. I have also had homes kept in good repair and children honor parents’ wishes not to sell until they die, even if they moved to a retirement home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live next to two. One, the mom died and people inherited it. The other, a tree fell and and damaged the roof. The tenant moved out. The landlord doesn’t have the cash to repair it.

They own a home without basic insurance??

I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if they got cash and didn’t use it on repairs.

Wow. Lots of sketchy people.

OP, sometimes the family just leaves the property rot- they are holding out for as much money as possible. Think about it - if they are one of the original owners, maybe bought in McLean (for example) in the 1960’s - they probably paid about $30k back then. Now, the property might be worth over a million , for land alone- they are just going to let it sit there as long as possible. Worst that can happen, the county might get complaints about vermin or long grass. Sucks for the neighbors, especially if they have multi million dollar properties.

They must be paying the property taxes which would be over $5000 per year on a $500000 house.

Can get taxes deferred or — depending on income — no taxes are paid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live next to two. One, the mom died and people inherited it. The other, a tree fell and and damaged the roof. The tenant moved out. The landlord doesn’t have the cash to repair it.

They own a home without basic insurance??

I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if they got cash and didn’t use it on repairs.

Wow. Lots of sketchy people.

OP, sometimes the family just leaves the property rot- they are holding out for as much money as possible. Think about it - if they are one of the original owners, maybe bought in McLean (for example) in the 1960’s - they probably paid about $30k back then. Now, the property might be worth over a million , for land alone- they are just going to let it sit there as long as possible. Worst that can happen, the county might get complaints about vermin or long grass. Sucks for the neighbors, especially if they have multi million dollar properties.

They must be paying the property taxes which would be over $5000 per year on a $500000 house.

Can get taxes deferred or — depending on income — no taxes are paid.

Doesn’t the property go to next of kin? Presumably they would pay the back taxes once they sold the property? Assuming (in the case of) the original owner is now deceased? Why be so greedy and let the eyesore bring down the neighborhood?

There is a house on Old Dominion - those neighbors must have smashed most of those windows five times one year - place still sat rotting. Some people can’t take a hint - I am certain that is what those neighbors were thinking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live next to two. One, the mom died and people inherited it. The other, a tree fell and and damaged the roof. The tenant moved out. The landlord doesn’t have the cash to repair it.

They own a home without basic insurance??

I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if they got cash and didn’t use it on repairs.

Wow. Lots of sketchy people.

OP, sometimes the family just leaves the property rot- they are holding out for as much money as possible. Think about it - if they are one of the original owners, maybe bought in McLean (for example) in the 1960’s - they probably paid about $30k back then. Now, the property might be worth over a million , for land alone- they are just going to let it sit there as long as possible. Worst that can happen, the county might get complaints about vermin or long grass. Sucks for the neighbors, especially if they have multi million dollar properties.

They must be paying the property taxes which would be over $5000 per year on a $500000 house.

Can get taxes deferred or — depending on income — no taxes are paid.

Doesn’t the property go to next of kin? Presumably they would pay the back taxes once they sold the property? Assuming (in the case of) the original owner is now deceased? Why be so greedy and let the eyesore bring down the neighborhood?

There is a house on Old Dominion - those neighbors must have smashed most of those windows five times one year - place still sat rotting. Some people can’t take a hint - I am certain that is what those neighbors were thinking.

That house on old dominion is exactly what I thought about when I opened this thread, and I wondered why it’s been unoccupied so long. I assume you’re talking about the same one I’m thinking of - brick with funny white spots on it— close to McLean Central Park and J Gilbert’s

[Anonymous]

Foreign investors will buy properties in hot areas to park money. Criminals will use real estate to launder money. In the past two years, there has been more scrutiny of high end real estate purchased by LLCs so they are focusing on less high end properties.

Elderly going into nursing homes or dying without a good executor. Properties that were paid off but are in such a state of disrepair that the cost to get up to being a rental or being sold isn't worth more than the annual property taxes. It takes several years of unpaid property tax for a home to be taken over by the state or county.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live next to two. One, the mom died and people inherited it. The other, a tree fell and and damaged the roof. The tenant moved out. The landlord doesn’t have the cash to repair it.

They own a home without basic insurance??

I wouldn’t be remotely surprised if they got cash and didn’t use it on repairs.

Wow. Lots of sketchy people.

OP, sometimes the family just leaves the property rot- they are holding out for as much money as possible. Think about it - if they are one of the original owners, maybe bought in McLean (for example) in the 1960’s - they probably paid about $30k back then. Now, the property might be worth over a million , for land alone- they are just going to let it sit there as long as possible. Worst that can happen, the county might get complaints about vermin or long grass. Sucks for the neighbors, especially if they have multi million dollar properties.

They must be paying the property taxes which would be over $5000 per year on a $500000 house.

Can get taxes deferred or — depending on income — no taxes are paid.

Doesn’t the property go to next of kin? Presumably they would pay the back taxes once they sold the property? Assuming (in the case of) the original owner is now deceased? Why be so greedy and let the eyesore bring down the neighborhood?

There is a house on Old Dominion - those neighbors must have smashed most of those windows five times one year - place still sat rotting. Some people can’t take a hint - I am certain that is what those neighbors were thinking.

Property could be willed to next of kin but if it is several parties who have a sentimental attachment to the home, you can’t make them sell without creating difficult issues for family members.

Deferred taxes will have to be paid but most people in this position want the emotional tie to the house rather than the money.

If you are upset by a deteriorating house, you can have code enforcement investigate