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Monrovia asks residents to watch for “squatters”.
By Frazgo | May 12, 2008
Squatters, a scourge of neighborhoods and property owners has raised its ugly head here in Monrovia. The city has asked that residents notify Code Enforcement, 626-932-5535 or MPD 626-256-8000 if you are aware of any squatters.
Monrovians have been given notice of the problem in the Monrovia Today newsletter from the city received over the weekend. The eye opener for me was a bit that showed up in the Community Council notes dated 5/5/2008. The problem is much more severe than I had imagined.
City of
Monrovia$1/2 million in public safety funds will be lost this year. Anticipating another $1/2 million loss again next year. Losses due to poor home sales, reduced tax revenues.
Home foreclosures in Monrovia:
3 weeks ago = 400 houses in foreclosure; 130 houses vacant.
Beware of squatters in your neighborhood.
Squatters can move into a vacant house; send self a letter to that address, thereby establishing residency; thereafter lengthy legal eviction process required to remove squatters.
City may have to increase personnel on code enforcement to handle this new situation with vacant properties, and consequent untended yards, squatters, etc.
Very interesting to see that many homes in foreclosure. That will certainly be a much larger drag on housing prices than anything else in at least a decade. The impact to the city budget also is noteworthy.
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Topics: Main Page, Affordable Housing Bunny, Monrovia |
May 12th, 2008 at 10:48 am
I wonder how many of the 400 are notice of default letters?
May 12th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Howey, I have no idea you are getting a direct copy and paste from the Communicy Council report.
I suspect that is actual numbers of homes with foreclosures as the city would get notice of it as it puts tax bill collection on hold. (When a bank takes a foreclosure they don’t pay taxes on it until sold).
May 12th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I am optimistically hoping that the bulk are in the beginning stages of foreclosure when the owner is most likely able to settle up before things go too far south. I realize I may just be whistlin’ past the graveyard.
I have a neighbor who has been in process since December, I pity anyone who would dare think about squatting in this guys house, he wouldn’t be very welcoming.
May 12th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I’m sorry- is squatting common?
May 12th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
I had no idea it was either until the city brought it up. There was a really funny episode of My Family on BBCA that dealt with squatters but have heard of it only a few times.
May 12th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Generally speaking, squatters are not a problem. However, the city making it a potential issue is the precursor for them to impose fees upon the banks to cover the “cost” of enforcement. I wouldn’t be surprised if the city elects to begin “boarding up” and “fencing off” these properties and then imposing a fee on the bank or new buyer…..time will tell.
May 13th, 2008 at 4:20 am
If these homes are being left vacant for so long, could I buy one at a cheap rate?
May 13th, 2008 at 8:55 am
I don’t believe those numbers - I walk the city every day and haven’t seen a single “bank-owed” for sale sign - does anyone have a number for the houses on the market now that are bank owned - if you want to see what that realy looks like check out Highland Park
May 13th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Ashley, I don’t know what to believe either. I suspect this was floated out there in an effort to find a way to make money like Gilman said.
My wife works at HSBC and is going to see what their numbers are for Monrovia. That might help us with a number of actual bank owned for one of the smaller players in the area.
That said, I have seen quite a few in town. About a month ago there were 3 or 4 by Wild Rose Elementary at Lime and Jasmine. They had the “bank auction” notices for a while and have since been fixed up.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:55 am
I can’t wait untill the Ochoa family goes on vacation this summer. I’m going to move in to their house and exercise my rights of a squatter.
May 13th, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Damn, Frazgo!
This is pretty shocking. First I’ve heard of it.
I wonder if this is being done all over the area?
Sierra Madre? Pasadena? Arcadia?
I remember my dad would talk about squatters out in the desert. Back in the 1950’s, people would just move on land out in that horrible Mohave desert and just pitch a tent or build a shack.
I suppose they still do.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
As of today there are 22 homes listed for sale in Monrovia that are either bank owned, in foreclosure, short sale or in notice of default. Not as dire as has been reported!
May 24th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
To expand on those numbers, there are a total of 191 properties listed for sale in Monrovia, including the 22 noted above.