How effective would a vacancy tax be in combatting homelessness and blight in the City of Angels?
Read More »Vacancy Taxes: Pros and Cons
With some California cities facing rising vacancy rates, here's how they plant to use “empty homes penalties” to combat affordability issues as well as blight.
Read More »Innovative Funding Models: A New Approach to Urban Blight
A recent study explored how new ways of financing can engage partners and investors to help communities address the impacts of blighted properties. Here's what it found.
Read More »Fraud, Foreclosure, and Community Blight in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York, and several other cities are facing increased community blight from fraudulent investments. Here's how the scam sales, delinquencies, and foreclosures are impacting neighborhoods.
Read More »Lawmakers Work Toward Statewide Foreclosure Database
Here’s how New Jersey state legislators are working to address their state’s ongoing elevated foreclosure rate, and to streamline communications between borrowers, government, and servicers.
Read More »A New Tactic to Fight Zombie Homes
This June, Washington state will implement a new law (HB2057) designed to combat abandoned zombie properties and streamline interactions between government and lenders when it comes to preventing urban blight as the properties fall into disrepair. As reported by the ...
Read More »Fight Against Urban Blight Finds Unexpected Ally
The topic of zombie homes comes up often here on DS News, ranging from fast-track foreclosure legislation to rules about clearboarding and plywood bans. In February, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that the state was buying up distressed mortgages ...
Read More »These Are the Most Dangerous U.S. Cities
NeighborhoodScout, a web-based analytics platform, recently released its 2018 list of the Top 100 Most Dangerous U.S. Cities. They compiled the list by examining violent crime reports of cities with a minimum population of 25,000. They then took the number of crimes reported ...
Read More »More Communities Banning Plywood on Zombie Homes
Abandoned “zombie homes” are a problem in many communities, driving down property values, attracting crime, and often creating safety risks such as fire hazards. Communities battle zombie homes and related urban blight in a variety of ways, ranging from fast-track ...
Read More »Unloading Inventory
While the management of liquidation processes may vary, the end goal is the same—effectuate liquidation strategies and expedite third-party property sales to minimize neighborhood blight and reduce the operation and holding risks associated with distressed property management. Editor's note: This story was originally featured in the December issue of DS News, out now.
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