For the past few years, the Inland Empire in Riverside County has been one of the fastest growing counties in the state, home to a major housing boom. But now the Inland Empire is pretty much the poster child for the foreclosure crisis. In the newer developments, house after house sits vacant, either up for auction, for sale by a bank or going for what’s called a “short sale” which is when the owner owes more than the house is worth.
SoCal Connected tracked down some surreal sights associated with the crisis for a segment called Foreclosure Alley--a company that specializes in removing whatever people leave behind in their foreclosed homes. The process is called a “trashout” - a term the company came up with because it perfectly describes what happens. Everything that’s left is dumped in a trailer and taken to the landfill. In the clip below, Arik Jensen and Gregory Fitch talk about the hardest part of their jobs.
SoCal Connected tracked down some surreal sights associated with the crisis for a segment called Foreclosure Alley--a company that specializes in removing whatever people leave behind in their foreclosed homes. The process is called a “trashout” - a term the company came up with because it perfectly describes what happens. Everything that’s left is dumped in a trailer and taken to the landfill. In the clip below, Arik Jensen and Gregory Fitch talk about the hardest part of their jobs.
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On the other side of things, for several years my wife and I watched housing prices rocket farther and farther out of reach. While I feel bad for the people who were scammed into horrible financial instruments, finally the prices are starting to dip.
Too bad you can't get financing. Maybe someday.
While I am sympathetic to the people who have lost their homes, I would like to see some coverage of how this financial crisis is affecting the rest of us who couldn't afford to buy homes in the first place and are being financially squeezed even harder by the current economy.
Dear Angela~
You did it again! As one who has been through the griping fear of realizing you have no home, save wheels on the van, I was very quiet while watching the utter devastation of our families' dream homes. How very fragile life can be! My own brother possibly faces foreclosure in his home outside of Oroville~ another outlying area where jobs are scarce and he can no longer survive the $3100/month mortgage caused in part by questionable loans.
Leave it to you to pitch in with the yard work! Seriously, your program made a real impact on me~ both in thankfulness that I are no longer 'half-homeless', and deep sorrow for all the people who are facing this crisis. I survived with alot of emotional support and love from people like you, but it can be a devastating, life-changing experience.
Mi casa su casa~
You are in my heart always~ you are THE BEST, Angela~!
In Life,
Linda n' Danny~Meow Turner
Instead of advising southern Californans,make deals with public TV in states like Ohio,Pennsylvania and Florida and show them what forclosure is all about.Maybe some of the viewers wont be so bitter. McCain said "country first".Perhaps some of their Congresspeople will realize that California is in the USA too.
Sadly with this Bailout package..you being a responsible citizen will bail out those that lived way beyond their means. This mess started back when the govt made it easier to file bankruptcies, then groups like ACORN (voter fraud, intimidation, community activists) pushed for financial assistance in the housing market for those that could not afford to buy homes even with rates down where they were. No money down, include money for furniture, roll in the car...thanks to the architects Barney Frank and others on the Hill, they are now here to say they will fix it and hope you don't realize they are the ones that broke it in the first place. You do not need credit scores if you don't bend over to credit. Dave Ramsey has a following now for the insanity that many have come to realize is downright stupid on THEIR part! No one twisted anyone's arm to buy the homes they did, or to even buy a home! Nothing wrong with renting, many of us did when starting out..owned homes and become debt free with responsible economic habits. Think what would my grandparents have done? We live in a consumer based marketed society. This happened to the Japanese in their financial disruption but at least they were savers and "manufactured" the TV. We are a country of consumers and our products are more often made outside of the US. You cannot tax ALL Americans and business as the Govt has done for decades and have a healthy economy. It's great to help your fellow man but the person being helped needs to accept responsibility after the lift up. You, thus, will pay for someone else being irresponsible. How does that make you feel? Like the new Directv customer who gets all the free goodies, and you the valued long time customer gets called that in name only when you need a service call! I hear Dublin, Ireland's economy is rockin"..but then corporations only pay 11% tax and here in the US 35% with Obama saying that will go up more?? Try getting a job from a poor person! Obama worked with, accepted and granted favors to ACORN. This bill asks for more money to ACORN and the Unions. McCain said, as Clinton supported, he tried to fix this 12-20 times, but failed. Lot of good that does us in hindsight.
Trick or Treat. The Politicians play their tricks and you provide the treats. Happy Halloween!
Only 2% of the population is personally effected by these foreclosures. Californians have long lived way beyond their means keeping up with Tinseltown..we are not all like Calif. You might also ask where this obscene bailout dollar amount came up with in the first place?? Anyone know?
Thanks for being Responsible!! I applaud you. You are a great American!
"scammed into horrible financial instruments"
Come on these people had an attorney at closing, knew how much they had to spend each month, had often other payments.
They continued to spend, spend, spend, flip flopped homes..forgot where their priorities should fall. Only need to listen to a few Dave Ramsey shows to understand what he has been finacially preaching for years and many have come to understand and break the bonds of debt they had fallen into: "Wake up America..use the brain God gave you!
Now, the rest of us who do live within our means and don't give a rats patootie about credit ratings as we deal with the old formula..if you can't afford it, don't buy it. There are always exceptions for tragedy in a family; but this is just down right stupidity. Teach your children well, so they won't grow up with wants replacing their needs and values in life.
The banks for the most part just followed the lower guidelines set in place by your fab politicians back in the mid to early 90's. Barney Frank (dated a guy from Fannie) swore just a year or so ago everything was going splendid, when Clinton and others, & yes; those damn Republicans questioned the risk and wanted measures to tighten it up. 95 Dems did not vote for this past failed bailout along with many Repubs. Pelosi, with her ongoing failed record in Congress, cannot get the numbers she needs and has been suggested she manipulated this past vote for it to fail by bad mouthing those she needed support from in public..how dumb is that?
This is also so suspicious in nature occuring now before the election when it has been rumored and fought against for years. 12-20 times of calls to tighten up" these lending risks. Why didn't you know of it,you ask? The media spends more time and money on stories about Pigs wearing Lipstick! The infamous Elliott Sptizer before his embarrassing "gottcha with hooker" scenario was said to be looking into this "risk" (fraud) activity. This is considered by many to be a Political ploy saved for just this time frame in the election.
"They played on our feeeears!" OOOops someone else said that.
Our country is strong for the people that keep the machinery running despite the despots in Washington who are always throwing a monkey wrench into everything with more taxes!
hi! just wanted to ask a question . If someone filed for bankruptcy already once can you file again . also if one's home is in foreclose what obligations do the homeower have after the forecloser is fianall. thank!s a friend with questions
How can I contact John Plocher the owner of the company that does "trash-outs"?
Thanks
I just watched this report on The News Hour - PBS and am INFURIATED! I came into it a minute late and didn't realize this is Southern California. I thought it was in the mid-west where (pardon me) folks aren't very bright when it comes to environmental issues. Hell, recycling seems to be a four-letter word in most parts of the US. I can't believe that a California business owner, mortgage brokers, banks, neighborhoods, cities, city governments, any organizations involved and any government agencies aware of this "trashout" practice are allowing it to happen. Whoever this guy is, he ought to be run out of the community...along with the folks who hired him. While we love to preach green policies and lament our environmental condition, we watch all these man-made materials being hauled off to a landfill without blinking an eye and only feel sorry for the folks who had to move out. MY GOD! The financial mess we're in has changed NOTHING! The same mindset that caused these forclosures is now in charge of cleaning them up. Why in God's name would anyone trust a mortgage broker or a bank to hire anyone with a social concience to do their dirty work? Greed rules and greed will find the quickest way to make a buck, no matter how wrong it is. Somebody out there MUST feel the same way. What can we do to change this trashout process - NOW!
Phyllis ~ not every preservation company operates in the same manner. We do trashouts on a routine basis in order for the banks & listing agents to put these foreclosed homes on the market.
We donate everything we possibly can and do this for a couple of reasons.
One, there is likely to be someone out there who can use what was left behind. Look at the fire victims right now who are having to start from scratch because they lost everything in the fires. All of their hopes and dreams are in ashes now and they will need to replace at least the basics.
We donate in every way we can possibly think of from baby furniture, clothing, toys, and tools right down to pots, pans, linens, and small appliances that are in working condition.
Two, we do have to take the real trash to the dump. Every time we go, we see a steady stream of other preservation vendors lining up with their trucks full. Southern California's landfills are filling up and some are closing down because they've reached their capacity. We add as little as we can to the landfills.
There is no way to change the fact that trashouts are necessary to the real estate industry.
But by utilizing the services of conscientous preservation companies and encouraging homeowners, who have been foreclosed on, to take their valuables with maybe them will we see an end to the waste. Unfortunately, many of those homeowners cannot even afford a moving truck by the time they leave their homes.
It's amazing what people leave behind. But if anyone truly has a need for something, just let me know. I believe my e-mail address will show up in this post, along with my comment.
We DO NOT make a profit off of the usable items. My conscience would never allow it.
Phyllis, you are so right. It's sad and ironic to say the least to leave banks and mortgage brokers in charge of a cleanup they themselves created.
Let's get together and start a nonprofit company to warehouse 'trashed out' homes, and then offer, as Goodwill does, merchandise for a price to keep us in business helping those who need household goods. What do you say?
john
John ~
If you put a solid plan together, my company will work with you regarding donations.
I don't like the waste anymore than anyone viewing the video. I get as angry as Phyllis when I see, or have knowledge, of stuff like that.
You can contact me at http://allreopreservation.com if you're serious. I know I am.
Linda
Hi. I live in Israel. But i am not juwish. I am 31 years old. I would to live in USA and for me is very intresting to buy such house for life. I want to live in USA and in California too. So why american government not to permit the immigration of people, as I, which are possibly to buy house in America? Real estate agenses want us to see hear. Emigrants always helped to America