Housing Counselors Share in the Strain of Foreclosures Nonprofit Workers' Caseloads Are Rising, and So Is Their Exposure to Homeowners' Anguish It was one of Zach Urban's most trying days as a housing counselor: A woman arrived on his doorstep so distraught over the thought of losing her townhome that he feared she might harm herself. Sherie Zamora sought Urban's help when she temporarily lost her job and couldn't get relief from her mortgage company. She said Urban was calm and reassuring as they developed a plan. But as she left his office, he gave her some suicide-prevention hot-line numbers. "I could laugh about this now but, at the time, it was not a laughing matter," said Zamora, 43, an insurance agent who saved her Denver townhouse nearly four years ago. "I was at the end of my rope, and I felt hopeless." Urban is one of thousands of counselors at nonprofit housing agencies who preside over a court of last resort for financially troubled homeowners. It's become a more stressful job as the nation's housing slump sends caseloads skyrocketing. The demand -- and the heart-wrenching stories -- can seem never-ending.
It was one of Zach Urban's most trying days as a housing counselor: A woman arrived on his doorstep so distraught over the thought of losing her townhome that he feared she might harm herself.
Sherie Zamora sought Urban's help when she temporarily lost her job and couldn't get relief from her mortgage company. She said Urban was calm and reassuring as they developed a plan. But as she left his office, he gave her some suicide-prevention hot-line numbers.
"I could laugh about this now but, at the time, it was not a laughing matter," said Zamora, 43, an insurance agent who saved her Denver townhouse nearly four years ago. "I was at the end of my rope, and I felt hopeless."
Urban is one of thousands of counselors at nonprofit housing agencies who preside over a court of last resort for financially troubled homeowners. It's become a more stressful job as the nation's housing slump sends caseloads skyrocketing. The demand -- and the heart-wrenching stories -- can seem never-ending.
Statistical relations between economic crises ans suicides are well known. The modern libertarian ethics that you yourself are to blame for any financial troubles may have strengthening effect, whether you keep the ethical belief or realize you got fooled...
There are recent Katrina survivors studies that show psychological things get worse with them as times go by, so far.
Housing crisis leads some former owners, tenants to take anger out on property As many as 25 percent of Las Vegas' bank-foreclosed homes suffer intentional damage, according to an informal R-J survey of valley appraisers and real estate agents. [This] damage -- most of which is inflicted in the four to 12 months between the notice of default and the constable's knock at the door -- typically requires $3,000 to $10,000 to repair. However, it can approach or exceed 10 percent of a home's total value. "Some of the time, the house's worth is a detriment to the land value. [It's] amazing what some people will do to their houses." The percentage of foreclosures with damage is actually on the decline, the interview subjects agree. "In the late '90s, 60 percent were damaged. [It's] a lot less now due to the fact that a lot more new homes are being foreclosed on. Some have never even been lived in." At the same time, the number of damaged houses is rising because of the sheer explosion of foreclosures.
As many as 25 percent of Las Vegas' bank-foreclosed homes suffer intentional damage, according to an informal R-J survey of valley appraisers and real estate agents. [This] damage -- most of which is inflicted in the four to 12 months between the notice of default and the constable's knock at the door -- typically requires $3,000 to $10,000 to repair. However, it can approach or exceed 10 percent of a home's total value.
"Some of the time, the house's worth is a detriment to the land value. [It's] amazing what some people will do to their houses."
The percentage of foreclosures with damage is actually on the decline, the interview subjects agree.
"In the late '90s, 60 percent were damaged. [It's] a lot less now due to the fact that a lot more new homes are being foreclosed on. Some have never even been lived in."
At the same time, the number of damaged houses is rising because of the sheer explosion of foreclosures.
A couple of interesting videos are accessible here.
