The Manteca Dream Becomes The Reality Of A Foreclosure Nightmare

Posted in Foreclosure, September 4th, 2007 |

Gang and drug parties have become the bane in Manteca. At one time people had thronged to light the fires of their hearths in the Central Valley in search of their dream homes. A curse seems to have brought down the pox of foreclosures – houses with neglected overgrowth and broken boarded windows are inviting the scum and grave diggers of society. The worst affected are the affluent new sections of southern and eastern Manteca. Here most of the 66 foreclosures are concentrated. Most of those who were buying houses for the first time preferred the valley to be more affordable than the Bay area. But they did not qualify for conventional loans.

Manteca and other cities are reeling under this socio-economic malaise which is a result of the foreclosure. There is a rise in gang operations, wild boisterous drug parties and activities of dangerous vagrant squatters. Politicians, law enforces and ordinary citizens are all at their wits end. The very quality of life is at stake.

Pressure is being put on mortgage holders to look after their units. Laws too need to be overhauled to give more teeth to civil authorities.

The sub-prime mortgage sector’s failure is the principal cause for this scenario. It was only when the numbers started rolling in that the concerned authorities woke up to the fact how extensively the net of sub-prime had spread its tentacles. Loans began to go delinquent. Prices of houses fell. There developed a job crunch.

In such a scenario who bothers to clean the backyard? Police complain of an increase in criminal activity. One family survived for few days the tragedy of death living without water or electricity. Units sitting on the limbo stage when it belongs to neither the bank nor the previous owner are the worst affected. It becomes a no-man’s land – a headache for the nearby neighbours. Pressure is being put on the banks and other lenders who now own the property to take proper steps to maintain the properties. Realtors opine that the situation will not improve but slowly slide down for the worse. Foreclosures are on the increase. San Joaquin and Stanislaus are one of the worst affected areas. Arsonists have become active. Lights and taps of abandoned homes are kept running. In desperation the neighbours are pitching in to maintain the the locality.