MONITOR VACANT PROPERTIES

A bill to be considered by Florida lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session would create an online registry of vacant, abandoned or pre-foreclosure properties to help local governments keep track of code violations. Supporters of the bill say abandoned homes often are rundown, making it difficult for lenders and Realtors to sell them, and depressing the value of surrounding properties. The law would require property owners to register homes as soon as the mortgage defaults, and they would be assessed a fee for listing the home in the registry. Critics say that overworked lenders would be unable to handle the added work.

Source: 
Orlando Business Journal (02/16/09) Fluker, Anjali
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