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#1 Online Daily Newspaper & Digital news service
HB-1238 heading for Senate vote
Clearing abandoned properties priority of community
By Allen Watts
Many
local folks have made inquiries about the House Bill-1238 regarding abandoned property and the role in which mortgage companies or
municipalities will have. Some are worried that a mortgage company can present to the court that the property is sitting vacant and
they can get the property sooner. Possibly causing eviction f the owner, that is not the purpose or the legislation of the HB-1238.
Understanding the role of the bill is crucial to everyone, especially the residents. The bill introduced to help clean up local areas
that have blighted homes sitting while in foreclosure, is not to take homes away from owners.
In fact while the
bill does allow for expediting the foreclosure process. The bill also allows for home owner protection as well as community protection
from blighted properties ruining a neighborhood.
At any time, the debtor is allowed to present evidence that the
property is not vacant or abandoned. This would then halt the process of foreclosure and continue on its regular course.
The bill HB-1238 sponsored by Representative Woody Burton is intended to help cleanup cities with un-kept properties that devalue
and ruin a neighborhood appearance.
“Allowing foreclosure and abandonment action to occur simultaneously will greatly
benefit our local communities because it puts the process on a fast track,” said Rep. Burton. “Abandoned properties may be an eye-sore
and attract crime in many of our local communities. In addition, abandoned or vacant lots can decrease the property value of surrounding
homes and neighborhoods.
The next step for HB 1238 will be a floor hearing in the Senate. If signed into law,
it will go into effect on July 1, 2012.
The bill as written is a plus for all concerned, giving rights to the owner
and to the mortgage company if the home would be left abandoned by the home owner.
Abandoned homes help or assist in the
infestation of criminal activity in communities. They often provide a place where undesired activities can happen in secrecy and hidden
from public eye. Drug deals, prostitution, murder and other crimes have been done in abandoned homes in the Johnson county community
for years.