When we first moved in, the next-door neighbors diligently worked on the their house and their yard, every day showing pride of ownership, and, in turn, pride in the community and neighborhood. Unfortunately, they were lured to a greener pasture by the housing boom and moved out a few years afterward, getting top dollar for their home, at a price we thought at the time was a bargain.
New neighbors quickly moved in and it became clear that they were struggling. They gamely tried keeping up with the yard, but the bushes and lawn became more and more bedraggled, the deck cluttered and messy, and not long afterward, only one car would go in and out of the driveway.
We knew what was coming.
A family was breaking apart.
The house would also be a casualty.
The fate of the owners is tragic. We figure they split up and headed for parts unknown. We never had a chance to really get to know them. The house's condition is undoubtedly a metaphor for their life.
The bank now owns the home. The grass grows and grows, the deck is faded and cracked, mold grows on the siding, drain spouting is falling off in pieces. It is a blight. There are still belongings inside.
Banks are under no obligation to pay homeowners dues, to maintain the home in working condition, to repair anything. They don't care if they sell the home or not. They would just as soon wait "until the market gets better." If someone shows interest in buying such a home, he must wait and wade through endless red tape and delays.
Banks don't care about neighbors, neighborhoods, communities, least of all homeowners. They got all the money and they intend to keep it. Showing a soul and displaying good citizenry is not part of their mission statement.
I wonder if the time will ever come again where banks and other financial institutions will stop getting rich off the misfortunes of others?
