Work with members in your community and make a difference
Work with members in your community and make a difference
Be Better Informed Corporation has devoted its energy to passionately educating and informing communities on their real estate rights. Many of the communities are politically under-represented members of our city. The City of Chicago has over 100,000 vacant properties. These “Zombie Properties” attract crime, invite danger, drive down neighborhood values, and push out local families. Find out how you can contribute to the future of our communities.
Please reach us at neighbors@betterinformed.org if you cannot find an answer to your question.
A zombie property (sometimes referred to as a zombie mortgage property) is a type of investment property that has been abandoned by its owner after a foreclosure process begins. These properties create problems for an entire neighborhood because a vacant, unattended house can lower property values, attract crime, squatters, and become a fly dumping area.
A zombie foreclosure occurs when a home is left vacant by homeowners who have defaulted on their mortgage and either incorrectly believes they have to immediately move out after receiving a foreclosure notice or choose to abandon the property for other reasons, such as excessive back taxes or water bills are owed, there are fines and judgements against the property or other costs beyond the homeowners' ability to pay.
Blighted properties are neglected properties, occupied or unoccupied. They can be vacant lots, abandoned buildings, and derelict houses, as well as environmental contamination. Blight can also refer to overgrown lawns, uncollected litter, or inadequate street lighting.
The City of Chicago requires that an owner of a vacant building register the building with the City once it is vacant for more than 30 days. Each owner of a vacant building is also required to secure, insure, and maintain that building as required by ordinance. Registration must be renewed every six months. The city will shut off the water and cease billing the property owner for the duration of the vacancy. Click here for more information.
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