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

[Anonymous]

It would be less common for entire families to have just died and never returned. But the abandoned homes with everything seemingly in tact. What happens most of the time to make people leave and not return? Have you known of a home like this? What happened to the owners?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Foreclosure, went back to the bank, bank hasn't sold it yet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Foreclosure, went back to the bank, bank hasn't sold it yet.

That’s not an abandoned home.

[Anonymous]

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??

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Foreclosure, went back to the bank, bank hasn't sold it yet.

That’s not an abandoned home.

"Abandoned" does not mean no one owns it. It means 'deserted' or 'cast off'. A home that has been foreclosed upon can absolutely be abandoned. Detroit is filled with them.

[Anonymous]

My friend’s parents did this while we were college. They were in debt in the States. They bought one way ticket back to their home country, leaving everything behind. Their friends either got worried or went to their home to collect money and realized what had happened.

[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.

This is my neighbor's situation. She passed away at a facility. Her family members are fighting amongst themselves about it. Meanwhile, the porch rots, squirrels nest in the eaves and mosquitoes emerge from all the standing water. Wish they would sell it!

[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.

My mom was next of kin to her elderly never married uncle. He died in a nursing home but lived in the same house (a once grand Victorian) for nearly his entire adult life, 30-90. My mom was to be the executor of his estate but she declined, citing too much work, time and effort (uncle was a hoarder and cat rescuer hobbyist) and so my uncle's house became city property. The house sat abandoned for nearly ten years. Initially, one neighbor offered to buy the house just to tear it down. The house became listed as a blighted property (took several years to get that designation) and was finally demolished. I'm still so angry at my mom for not handling this better. So this is just one way houses become abandoned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Foreclosure, went back to the bank, bank hasn't sold it yet.

That’s not an abandoned home.

Do you really not know the meaning of abandoned? EVERY abandoned item is owned by SOMEONE. An abandoned home means no one is living in it, that is it

[Anonymous]

Letter carrier here. I have about a half dozen abandoned houses on my route at any time. This is in a nice, not inexpensive, area.

Three of the houses are oddly somewhat maintained, but have been empty for years. Not for lack of interest-the area is hot and buyers are always asking me about them (I know nothing).

The others have been abandoned for various reasons (usually death). One just burned. Not sure what happened there. Yes, it's so weird with these empty places, you'd think someone would want to make some money on them.

[Anonymous]

There is one on my street. The elderly owner was placed in a nursing home by her son and I believe signed over the deed to him. But he doesn’t live in it and it’s been empty for over 10 years. But he refuses to sell it and sometimes shows up to store random furniture in it. But no one cuts the grass, it has no running utilities and the roof is caving in. Then neighbors complain to the city but still it just sits there like a huge eye sore. I wish he would just sell it. I have no clue why he won’t.