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Updated over 8 years ago on . Most recent reply
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House I want to buy in Bankruptcy 7 years ago. Now What?
So, I'm driving for dollars and see the ugliest house on a great block in a great neighborhood in Laurel, MD in Prince George's County. According to SDAT the house is owned by a regular person with their mailing address the same as the house. After googling, I found a couple of addresses for this individual and sent letters to her at them all. I also found out this house was a part of a chapter 7 Bankruptcy filed and discharged in 2009. I found the trustee on PACER and called and left a couple of messages. I also found out that she's gotten three parking tickets at a particular address last year so I'll send her a letter once every 2 weeks (unless that's a bad idea).
According to the neighbors, PG County comes out to do some maintenance, but I can't find a lien anywhere. According to the property tax website taxes are paid up and not delinquent.
From what I've read here on BP, after the bankruptcy, it's up to the trustee to sell the house to make sure the debtees are paid. I'm assuming, my next move is to visit the trustee's office in Rockville? My real question to all you savvy folks out there is how do I get this house?
My secondary questions out of curiosity:
How is it that the house is still in the original owners name after bankruptcy?
If Chapter 7 wipes out the mortgages does that mean you just get to keep the house?
Also, the loan was made through CountryWide in 2003 and it seems they've been paying the taxes from 10/11 year to 12/13 year through "BAC TAX SERVICES CORP". For the past three years "RESIDENTIAL CREDIT SOLTNS" have been paying the taxes. What's really going on here?
Thanks in advanced!
Most Popular Reply
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The BK is over, discharged, and no longer relevant, the trustee has nothing to do with it now. The owner still owns it, and the bank still has to foreclose, just like any other loan in default. I see this all the time, and a few times with old countrywide loans. The owner could do a short sale, but they really have little incentive to do one now, so eventually it will be foreclosed on.