Homes

New Site Allows Tenants To Avoid Foreclosed Homes

Click Here For A List Of 5 Steps Safeguarding Renters Against Foreclosure.

Read More About This In David Sutta's Blog

MIAMI (CBS4) ― If there is one part of his job Realtor Dennis Hearing doesn't like, this is it: It's his job to see who's living where and evict them out of foreclosed rentals.

"It's never a good scene," said Hearing, who works for Keller Williams. " It's never a happy time. It's something that I don't look forward to doing."

The day CBS4 Cameras went along with him, the house he had to take over was empty, but many times he finds renters, with no knowledge their rental was ever in foreclosure.

"It's very real; it's happening all the time," said Attorney Kristy Phillips. "When I go to court, I will be sitting and see 9, 10 tenants a week coming in saying 'I just moved in last week and I've got a mortgage foreclosure. What happens to my money?'"

Phillips says recovering that money is very difficult, and protection for renters hasn't really existed until now.

"They can find out a little more information. Possibly how much time do I have," said Hearing.

The website, rentalforeclosure.com, sponsored by Hearing, is making it possible for renters or nosy neighbors to see if their address is being foreclosed on.

"I thought this would be a great thing for people because I'm dealing with it first hand, talking to people who have no clue that the property they were living in was in foreclosure," said Hearing.

Technically this search can be done combing a handful of county run sites. Now with one site, and a few clicks, renters will be empowered.

"For me it was something to give back to the community," said Hearing. "Hopefully the renters could go out there and find out if the property is in foreclosure before they even rent."

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