13 Comments

  1. It seems to me that the majority of these “squatters” are doing their community (and thus the country) a valuable (and patriotic) service: vacant houses rapidly loose real wealth and damage the entire neighborhood, sometimes severely. Leaving buildings vacant and not maintained is one real way capital is destroyed.

  2. DO NOT PASS GO… this reminds me of a news article a while back about Deutsche bank trying to foreclose on homeowners in the U. S. Deutsche Bank was unable to produce the note to a judge. Come to think of it, the game of Monopoly DOES have a free parking space 🙂

  3. GeoMark,

    The one problem most people have with squatting is it attracts the criminal element. Meth labs and other undesirable activity can quickly sprout up in these abandoned homes. The trick (for the squatter) is to be up front about your activities with your neighbors. “I’m moving in with my wife and kids, we’re a decent family who needs a place to live, I hope you don’t mind.” And then rely on selective enforcement to protect you. That’s the real world for you, what matters is not the law, but what you can get away with. Being on good terms with your neighbors helps you get away with a lot more.

  4. Dear Passionately Apathetic,
    I was thinking only of people who were, or are, being foreclosed upon.
    You make some good points.
    Another idea: Responsible squatters can become “Professional House Sitters”. If the local bank has some say in the matter, the Professional House Sitters may even be able to work out a maintenance and upkeep contract like a short-term lease. A family with older children or relatives could “sit” several houses. Now all us Professional House Sitters need is a business association for promotion and lobbying purposes. [And next an IPO! 🙂 ] Catherine: a possibility for Solari Circles?

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