Vacant Property Rates Soar In Over Half Of U.S. Local Housing Markets

According to a new report from ATTOM Data Solutions published earlier today, vacant property rates are once again increasing in many markets across the country but perhaps not for the reasons you might think.  While so-called pre-foreclosure "zombie" properties have declined some 22% YoY, overall vacant property rates in 54% of the 149 metropolitan statistical areas analyzed by ATTOM actually increased due to, among other things, increasing ownership rates by investors as opposed to actual homeowners.

ATTOM Data Solutions, curator of the nation’s largest multi-sourced property database, today released its 2017 U.S. Residential Vacant Property and Zombie Foreclosure Report, which shows nearly 1.4 million (1,367,793) U.S. residential properties (1 to 4 units) were vacant as of the end of the third quarter of 2017 — representing 1.58 percent of all U.S. residential properties.

 

The 1.58 percent vacant property rate nationwide decreased slightly from 1.63 percent a year ago, but vacant property rates increased from a year ago in 81 of the 149 metropolitan statistical areas analyzed in the report (54 percent), including Chicago, New York, St. Louis, Baltimore and Phoenix.

 

The report also shows that the number of vacant “zombie” pre-foreclosure properties — which have started the foreclosure process but have not yet been repossessed by the foreclosing lender — decreased 22 percent from a year ago to 14,312 as of the end of Q3 2017, 67 percent below the peak of 44,030 in Q3 2013. The number of vacant bank-owned properties decreased 48 percent from a year ago to 24,026 as of the end of Q3 2017.

 

“Zombie foreclosures have dwindled dramatically over the last four years as a supply-starved housing has soaked up even some of the most highly distressed properties,” said Daren Blomquist, senior vice president at ATTOM Data Solutions. “There are still pockets of the country with high zombie foreclosure rates, and high vacant property rates in general, primarily in the Rust Belt and parts of the Northeast and Southeast — driven in large part by a high share of non-owner occupied vacant properties in those areas.

 

“There is evidence that the ultra-tight inventory environment in some red-hot markets is beginning to ease just a bit, with vacant property rates nudging higher in markets such as San Jose, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Boston and Denver,” Blomquist added.

Finally! 5 Gov’t Officials Indicted for Manslaughter Over Flint Water Crisis

Flint, MI — (RT) Michigan’s attorney general has filed new, more serious charges of involuntary manslaughter against five officials in the Flint Water Crisis investigation, among them the head of Michigan’s health department.

Heath chief Nick Lyon was charged with two felonies, involuntary manslaughter and misconduct in office, for failing to alert the public about an outbreak in Legionnaires’ disease in the Flint area, according to AP.

Some experts linked the outbreak to poor water quality during the height of water crisis in 2014-15. Nearly 100 people were affected during the Legionnaires outbreak, 12 of whom died.

“Mr. Lyon failed in his responsibility to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Flint,” Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette told reporters on Wednesday about charges that are moving closer than ever to Governor Rick Snyder.

“After being informed of the growing Legionnaires outbreak in Flint, Nick Lyon failed to inform the public of this health threat. A threat that cost of the life of Robert Skidmore.”

Skidmore was a great-grandfather with three sons, four grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He died from Legionnaires’ disease in December 2015.

Lyon’s was also charged for allegedly obstructing university researchers who are studying if the surge in cases was linked to the Flint River.

Lyon admitted he was aware of the Legionnaires’ outbreak for months but wanted to wait until investigators in the state Health and Human Services Department had finished their own probe.

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Lyon, if convicted, could face up to 15 years in prison for the manslaughter and up to 5 years for the misconduct charge.

Four others were charged with involuntary manslaughter: former Flint Emergency Manager Darnell Early; former City of Flint Water Department Manager Howard Croft; Michigan Department of Environment Quality’s Drinking Water Chief Laine Shekter-Smith; and Water Supervisor Steven Busch – all for failure to act in the Flint water crisis.

Michigan’s medical executive chief, Eden Wells, was charged with a felony and misdemeanor for obstruction of justice and lying to a police officer and failing to protect the health and safety of the citizens of Flint.

“During the course of the investigation, Ms Wells withheld funding for programs designed to help victims of the crisis and then lied to an investigator about a material fact,” Schuette said.

Children have been exposed to lead. People in Flint have died as a result of decisions made by the individuals we are charging today.

— A.G. Bill Schuette (@SchuetteOnDuty) June 14, 2017

Michigan Governor, Rick Snyder, issued a statement after the felony charges were announced and said he is standing behind the two top health department officials.

“Director Lyon and Dr. Wells have been and continue to be instrumental in Flint’s recovery,” Snyder said in a news release. “They have my full faith and confidence, and will remain on duty at DHHS,” according to Detroit Free Press.

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Snyder said Lyon “has been a strong leader … and remains completely committed to Flint’s recovery.”

The problems began when the Flint’s water supply was switched to the Flint River in April 2014, while under state emergency management, but it was not treated to reduce corrosion. Lead from old plumbing leached into the water system, causing a massive lead contamination crisis.

Schuette said that while no charges are planned against Governor Rick Snyder, his investigation would continue.

“We have attempted to interview the governor [but] we were not successful,” Shuette said, according to Detroit Free Press.

The Michigan attorney general said his office had also released an interim report on the investigation. His team had interviewed 250 people, examined over 100 emails and issued 51 criminal charges and charged 15 current or former government officials in the probe that began in 2016.

WATCH: Flint Residents Ask for Clean Water So Cops Assault and Arrest Them

Flint, MI — (RT) Six were arrested at a heavily policed Flint, Michigan, public town hall meeting that was convened at a church to address the mayor’s decision to remain connected with a Detroit-area water system.

Hundreds of Flint residents were on hand to grill Mayor Karen Weaver and other city , state and federal public officials on Thursday at a town hall meeting to address Weaver’s decision, announced Tuesday, to maintain the city’s primary water supplier, the Great Lakes Water Authority (GLWA). The city has endured a three-year water crisis that has included high levels of lead and other contaminants.

Tensions were high even before Thursday’s meeting began, as attendees complained that the event was held at House of Prayer Missionary Baptist Church and not a public space, the Flint Journal reported. Upon entering the church, people wearing hats were pressed by armed Flint police to remove their headgear in a place of worship. This led to arguments with police and, eventually, six arrests, according to reports. Others were escorted out of the church for using profanities.

“I just want to make sure this meeting goes off the way it’s supposed to and that everybody’s respecting everyone,” Flint police Chief Tim Johnson said at the meeting, according to the Flint Journal. “Please don’t be in here trying to disrupt this meeting, because if you do I’m going to escort you out and I’m only going to take you to the back door and then you’re going to jail. I’m not going to play with nobody tonight.”

Johnson said those arrested were “agitators” who, despite the chief’s warning, “felt like they can do it anyway.”

One man being escorted out of the church yelled, “Mni Wiconi,” a Lakota phrase meaning “Water is life,” a term used by and now connected with Standing Rock Sioux water protectors that sought to block the Dakota Access Pipeline. Immediately after the man yelled, his wife was aggressively arrested by Johnson and others, as seen in a video posted by WFNT.

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During the meeting, officials fielded questions about water bacteria levels and the long-term health effects of tainted drinking water in the city, according to the Flint Journal. Residents said the city was not doing enough to purify Flint’s water. The city still recommends residents ingest only bottled or filtered water.

“How are we going to protect people when they’re in their showers and when they’re washing their clothes,” said one woman, according to WKAR. “I’m not trying to be rude.. but people are going to continue getting sick and possibly die.”

Weaver said Tuesday that Flint officials considered 12 different options for the city’s water supply, but chose to remain with the GLWA, as it is “the best option when you consider factors related to public health and when it comes to being fiscally responsible.”

#FlintWaterCrisis BREAKING: What I know now-4 or 5 arrests, one resident was arrested for yeling at a cop; others I’m finding out

— Jordan (@JordanChariton) April 21, 2017

The meeting was the only official public gathering during a 30-day “feedback” period for residents to address the city’s continued use of the GLWA, a regional water system that draws from the Detroit River and Lake Huron.

On April 25, 2014, after at least a year of deliberation and negotiation, Flint officials and its state-appointed emergency manager switched the city’s drinking water supply to the Flint River. Residents soon complained of the water’s odd tastes, smells and coloring, while officials repeatedly told them the water was safe to ingest. The situation became a full-blown crisis when, during the summer of 2015, rising levels of lead were detected in children’s blood.

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It was later determined that the Flint River water was not being treated properly, and that lead from aging water pipes has leached into the city’s water supply. Lead is a deadly neurotoxin, and exposure is especially dangerous for children, who may experience stunted growth, behavioral problems and neurological damage. During the crisis, 12 people died from Legionnaires disease, while residents, including young children, were continually exposed to dangerous levels of lead.

The city switched its water supply back to the Detroit River in October 2015, and current water tests show the city’s water quality has improved.

Last month, the US Environmental Protection Agency and the state of Michigan pledged $100 million and $87 million, respectively, to help the city address infrastructure improvements. A judge-approved settlement between the state and Flint will require the state to operate nine water distribution centers for residents to pick up bottled water.

The state will also be required to reserve another $10 million of federal funds in case repairs are more expensive than expected. In addition, the state will be responsible for appointing a third party to monitor the lead levels of 100 homes for at least three years.

Rappers Unite — Do Better Job than Govt Getting Flint Clean Water

Flint, MI — As city officials in Flint, Michigan come to grips with being the focal point of the most serious American health crisis since the 1949 Polio outbreak, the people continue to suffer from complications related to their lead poisoning. Since Flint was outed as being responsible for poisoning its own residents, another 3000 communities have been discovered to have lead levels in their water, higher than Flint’s. But while government continues to scratch its head, twiddle its thumbs, and search for a solution to the crisis, several high-profile hip-hop artists and rappers are taking action to help the people of Flint.

The artist known as “The Game” donated 500 thousand dollars to Avita Water, which matched the artists’ donation, in order to provide 1 million dollars’ worth of bottled water to Flint’s residents. After stating his motivation for helping is partly due to the fact that his younger sister’s family lives in Flint, and pointing to the fact that Flint’s affected residents have to use 9 bottles of water daily to drink, wash, and cook, The Game called out other celebrities. “Stop using others tragedies for your won celebrity gain…You’re not fooling ANYONE!” he reportedly said. “I seen Madonna and Jimmy Fallon’s $10,000 donations…that’s cute, but not nearly enough.”

According to one source, The Game is joined by several high-profile artists;

Diddy and his AQUAhydrate business partner, actor Mark Wahlberg, have pledged to donate one million bottles of water to local residents affected by the poisoned water infiltrating the city. They both have a large stake in the bottled water company. AQUAhydrate reps promised to send 5,000 cases of water to Flint and plan to continue providing additional cases of water to residents until the crisis has been resolved. “The AQUAhydrate team is doing everything it can to help with this issue,” Diddy said. “Mark and I made an initial pledge to donate and are committed to the continued aid to Flint residents as long as they need it. We hope this commitment will inspire others to get involved as well.” Joining them with the cause are Eminem and Wiz Khalifa.

Rapper Big Sean donated 10,000 dollars, and started a fundraising page known as Crowdrise to help others raise needed water funds for Flint. “I’m raising money to support the kids of Flint Michigan,” he stated. “Toxic water in Flint has rendered the water undrinkable and put the entire city in a state of emergency. Flint’s children were hit the hardest and some have experienced permanent and potentially devastating health defects from lead poisoning.”

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Artist Meek Hill donated 60,000 bottles of water, DJ Mustard donated 10,000 dollars, and Pusha donated 2,000 cases of water. Several other artists have taken action of a different kind, they’ve volunteered their time to meet the residents of Flint where they are, by spending time talking with folks and distributing water. Russell Simmons and Jon Connor have reportedly spent time passing out water and hanging with kids at the local boys and girls clubs in Flint. Other artists have made it a habit of mentioning Flint in their songs and raps — so that no one forgets the ongoing health crisis taking place.

Russell Simmons and Jon Connor have reportedly spent time passing out water and hanging with kids at the local boys and girls clubs in Flint. Other artists have made it a habit of mentioning Flint in their songs and raps — so that no one forgets the ongoing health crisis taking place.

Flint’s water supply became poisoned with lead when city officials attempted to save money by switching to the Flint River as the source for its water. The untreated Flint River corroded the city’s piping system, exposing its residents to unsafe levels of lead. While residents were first told their water was unsafe to drink and should be boiled, little did they know more serious poisons were also in their water.

While residents were first told their water was unsafe to drink and should be boiled, little did they know more serious poisons were also in their water. Lead had poisoned the supply, leading to birth defects in babies, developmental disorders and learning disabilities in youth, and painful skin conditions in others. All along, the government has done very little to resolve the health crisis. Flint’s water supply is still unsafe to drink, causing its residents to depend on bottled water for all their water needs.

Nestle Seeks More Groundwater to Expand Michigan Plant

The state of Michigan has given a preliminary go-ahead for food and beverage maker Nestle to nearly triple the amount of groundwater it will pump from beneath the state, to be bottled and sold at its Ice Mountain plant, approximately 120 miles from Flint. [1]

Source: mlive.com

Nestle Waters North America asked the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to allow the company to increase pumping from 150 to 400 gallons-per-minute at 1 of its production wells north of Evart.

The company already increased the well’s pumping rate last year and earlier this year, but needs the DEQ’s approval to max out the withdrawal capacity under the Section 17 of the Michigan Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). [1] [2]

The DEQ already issued a draft proposal for the request in January, and ended a public comment period on the subject on November 3. Carrie Monosmith, environmental health chief in the drinking water office, said the DEQ hadn’t received any comments. [1] [2]

Many Michigan residents feel Nestle has a lot of nerve asking for the increase, in light of Flint’s years-long nightmare over lead contamination in their drinking water. Many people in Flint still rely on bottled water for cooking, cleaning, and bathing as the government continues to drag its feet in replacing the corroded pipes. [1]

Nestle representatives defended the company’s efforts to pump more groundwater, saying the “U.S. market for bottled water in general is driving the bid for more Michigan groundwater.” [2]

That’s right, America. Nestle says it’s your fault.

If that’s not infuriating enough, Nestle gets to pump that water for free. Under state law, private property owners may withdraw from the aquifer under their property for free. The only cost is $200 in annual paperwork. [1]

The interstate Great Lakes compact prohibits water diversions outside of the Great Lakes basin, but a loophole in the law allows water to be sold outside the region, so long as it is shipped in bottles smaller than 5.7 gallons. [2]

Jeff Ostahowski, vice president of the Michigan Citizens for Water Conservation (MCWC), asks:

“The issue is the privatization of a critical resource. How much is too much?”

For years, MCWC has battled against Nestle to prevent it from expanding in the state.

According to Nestle and the DEQ, an environmental review shows the aquifer can withstand the proposed increase in pumping, and that it won’t hurt its flow, levels, or temperature of nearby surface waters.

But MCWC is looking for more assurances. Ostahowski said:

“It needs to be studied by all the best environmentalists, hydrologists and people acquainted with the science of where this water is actually coming from.

There are many different hydrologists who can look at the same data and come up with different conclusions.”

Ostahowski expressed frustration that the group wasn’t aware of Nestle’s plan until a Michigan news outlet contacted them for comment. He said:

“The DEQ should have sent us this information.”

Nestle will do whatever it takes to get its water wishes met, even if it means screwing people over to do it. The company was sued for stealing more than 1.8 billion gallons of water from California’s San Bernardino National Forest during the state’s worst drought and selling it back to the people at inflated costs.

Nestle’s then-CEO Tim Brown said he would increase the amount of water his company was stealing from the forest, if it could.

This past summer, Nestle bought a drought-stricken Canadian community’s water supply, sparking international outrage.

Nestle Chairman Peter Brabeck-Letmathe is even worse. He has said that water is not a human right, and should be privatized.

Keep all of this in mind the next time you’re tempted to buy food or water made by Nestle, because someone likely sacrificed something important for its production.

Sources:

[1] Common Dreams

[2] mlive.com

mlive.com

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.