Loan Defaulters Stripping the House

[KatieNK]

So my neighbors across the street (who were horrible people to everyone) up and left in the middle of the night a few weeks ago. They had a no-name moving van there all day and they packed it full and by midnight, they were gone including all of their 4 cars except for one which they abandoned (it has a flat tire and has been on the street for years and has been egged, paintballed and silly stringed since summer lol). We thought something was up because for about a month beforehand, they were always putting tons of trash on the street and it seemed like they were cleaning out and also some official looking people kept knocking on their door and they never answered. So today they came back, and stripped the house! They look all the appliances including the oven and dishwasher AND they took the hot water heater! Do you think they defaulted on their loan and are now just stripping the house? It makes sense because we have lived here 3 years, and none of them have worked in that entire time. Everyone on the street is glad to see them go.

[noppenbd]

Sounds like they are stripping the house. Although it is shameful, it isn't surprising to me. I've watched some house buying shows where foreclosure properties were shown, and they almost always had no stove, refrigerator, etc. I am a little surprised about the water heater, that is a lot of work to take!

[arthurb999]

I would have called the police and reported a burglary

[Ima saver]

Hot water heaters don't cost that much! That is a lot of work to take one out.

[KatieNK]

Yea and aren't they realllly heavy?

ETA: Also, I hope they unhooked it safely considering all the houses on this street have gas hot water heaters!

[arthurb999]

I’d call the police and gas company… because they probably didn’t do it right.
A water heater doesn’t weigh much once the water is drained.
It's not that much work.... you drain the water and cut 2 water pipes and the gas line. Less than an hour. They sell new for $500...

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Yes, call the gas company. They want to go the safest route and I feel sure they would come check out the situation with the water heater. Really, it is possible you could be in danger. We've had some house explosions in my area in which homes were damaged within a 1/4 mile radius, with nearest homes being destroyed. Probably they capped it off okay, but if they were angry and feeling vandal-ly---why take a chance?

[KatieNK]

Vandal-ly? LOL

Well there was a water heater repair man there yesterday so maybe they realized they did it wrong or maybe they aren't stripping the house. Who knows! It is very weird...

[dossin1]

Well, technically I guess if they bought those appliances they could take them. I think you can take stuff unless its a built-in. However, if you see them start loading a truck with copper pipes.....

[tulog]

You can check the county recorder's office to see if they defaulted on the loan. That would be indicated by a Notice of Default or Notice of Trustees Sale. The sale of the property can take place approximately 3 weeks after the NOTS.

Stripping the house in that case is a very bad idea. Depending on the inclination of the lender, they could be charged with fraud and made to pay restitution for the damages. The lender could also obtain a money judgment that would not be dischargeable in bankruptcy (as compared to the mortgage debt, which is), since the fraudulent taking of property was an intentional tort.