Squativersary Party

[noamnety]

Phone calls with my kid are always interesting. Tonight she told me she attended a Squativersary Party. Her friends have now been squatting in their (foreclosed? abandoned?) house for 5 full years. They've grown from two people in one house to a cluster of 16 people in 6 houses.

We were talking about what would happen if they got busted, she said not much, they might get evicted. It would be a loss because they've done a ton of renovations, but on the other hand they've gained a lot of building skills so she figures they'd still come out ahead. My daughter has some carpentry skills and is excited about the possibilities. I think her modern-day version of the american dream is to live in a nice squat someday.

[Warpy]

1. Since the banks have no idea who really owns the paper on them

I think a lot of them are going to revert to the state via quit claim deeds when the property taxes aren't paid for a sufficient time.

The states would be very wise to offer them to squatters who have improved the properties. It beats the hell out of taking the risk of having them trashed again when there's another eviction.

If things are handled correctly, there could eventually be a silver lining to all this pretty much abandoned property.

Squatting is going to be it in the meantime. 5 years is impressive, though. Are they in Florida?

[noamnety]

2. They're in Missouri.

My kid stayed with them before on a vacation, she said it was a beautiful place, nice woodwork and all.

[sarcasmo]

3. If they are taken care of the place the other sub division home owners will have no problem

with them living in that house.

[TheWraith]

4. Tell her to have her friends look into "adverse possession" laws.

In short, if the "real owner" of the property hasn't maintained it, and they have, they may be able to file paperwork to effectively take it over at no cost.

[noamnety]

5. They may need to be careful about that.

They've had their original house for 5 years but if they try to stake a formal claim on it, it might endanger ownership of the others their circle has taken over more recently.

[TheWraith]

6. Look into the laws.

Some states require little or no actual time of possession before you can claim an abandoned property.

[BeHereNow]

7. This is global- the kids are squatting all over the world.

I support them 100%.
My daughter is currently in Europe and is Squat-surfing
through several countries.
BHN