Zombie Foreclosure

Zombie foreclosure is a situation that occurs when a home is left vacant by homeowners who incorrectly believe they have to immediately move out after receiving a foreclosure notice, thinking that the foreclosing lender is now responsible for the property. If the lender doesn’t complete the foreclosure process and sell the home, no one is occupying or caring for the property, so the vacant property often falls into disrepair, creating safety concerns and resulting in an appearance that may lower property values in the surrounding community. A home left vacant for this reason is also known as a zombie foreclosure.