As foreclosed residents move out of homes, Mother Nature moves in

On Hilltop Lane, just down the street from Truxtun Park, a single-family home shows signs of neglect with tall grass, weeds and overgrown bushes sprouting up in the front yard. Just across the street, another home has its front double-hung windows boarded over with plywood.

The properties are just two of a growing number of area homes either owned by a bank because of foreclosure or in pre-foreclosure stages.

There were 251 county foreclosure filings in March, up from 166 filings in March 2007, said Clerk of the Circuit Court Robert Duckworth. The 62 filings in April don't provide a "true picture" because of a new law that increases the amount of time before a foreclosure can become final, Mr. Duckworth said.

"We've noticed that there are more foreclosed homes this year," said Michael Mallinoff, the Director of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs in Annapolis.

Mr. Mallinoff's department is in charge of inspecting and enforcing the city's property codes, and he said it is taking an aggressive approach toward maintaining foreclosed properties.

"The foreclosures first happened in other states like California and Florida, and from those states we've understood how to respond quickly," Mr. Mallinoff said.

They try to work with whoever owns the home to maintain it, but will eventually take matters into their own hands, he said. When necessary, the city can hire extra help to care for the property, Mr. Mallinoff said.

"If we don't get a response, we'll clean it up or board it up," he said.

Bobbie Baker, Annapolis' senior property maintenance inspector, said most foreclosures do not respond to the city's correction notices. Seven days after the notice is issued, the city can step in to manage the property.

Charges for lawn and property cleanup usually range from $150 to $200, and the city can apply those charges to the liens of a foreclosure purchase.

Especially during the summer months, the heavy rains and balmy temperatures can cause foreclosed homes to become overrun with weeds, wildlife and pooling water. A few foreclosures are even the targets for vandalism, property damage and mischievous youth. Mr. Mallinoff said his department has received complaints from residents and aldermen.

In the Admiral Heights neighborhood, a foreclosed split-level house was reported to the city by the neighborhood's improvement association.

"We did contact the Realtor and the city," association president Sean O'Neill said.

Mr. O'Neill said the house sat vacant for more than three months. Since the complaint was filed, the property has been cut and landscaped, but the backyard pool remains filled with a murky mix of leaves, debris and stormwater.

"Anytime you have a pool without a tenant living there it's a threat to the neighborhood's safety," Mr. O'Neill said.

A pool filled with rainwater also can quickly turn into a breeding ground for mosquitoes in the summer months. According to the Anne Arundel Department of Health, complaints about stagnant water have doubled from last year - most in connection with pools. But Elin Jones, spokeswoman for the county Department of Health, said she cannot confirm whether these cases are directly linked to vacant or foreclosed homes.

Across Maryland, foreclosure rates are climbing. A report by the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development showed foreclosures in the state increased 17 percent in the first quarter of 2008.

During this same period, Anne Arundel had more than 700 foreclosure events, making it the fifth highest for a county in Maryland. An event includes foreclosure notices, mailings, auctions and sales.

While foreclosures are still significantly higher in places like Baltimore, and Prince George's and Montgomery counties, the rate shows a steady increase over the past year.

"The amount of people calling as opposed to a year ago for counseling services has more than tripled," said Kathleen Koch, the executive director of Arundel Community Development Services. The nonprofit organization offers county residents assistance with refinance options, lender negotiations and legal services. Ms. Koch said residents facing foreclosure need to act immediately at the first signs of a loan default.

Real estate agents also said they are noticing an increase in foreclosure rates. Long and Foster Agent Annette Barbera said there are more short sale and foreclosure properties on the market this year.

"I would say they make up at least half of the property listings," she said.

Whether the vacant properties remain in good condition depends largely upon the lender Realtors work with, Keller Williams Realtor Andy Batch said.

"With the lenders I use, we maintain the property every two weeks," Mr. Batch said. "In the summertime we start mowing the lawns, and toward the fall we begin winterizing the properties."

If the grass grows higher than 12 inches, Annapolis residents can call the Department of Neighborhood and Environmental Programs to file a formal complaint.

"I don't remember maintaining any foreclosure properties last year," Mr. Baker said.

Now, he said he manages the upkeep of more than eight foreclosure properties.

"Sometimes the signs say bank-owned property, but we can usually tell," he said.

As the summer months continue, Mr. Baker said he expects the current foreclosure properties to remain vacant and the grass cutting to continue.

"Already we've cut them once, and we'll probably do it again on July 1," he said.