Distressed

A ring of thieves illegally took ownership of more than 40 homes across South Florida in a multimillion-dollar plan — even stealing properties that belonged to the dead, authorities say.

As the number of equity rich properties falls from its peak, the volume of seriously underwater properties saw its smallest annual decline, according to Attom Data Solutions.

The number of residential and commercial properties that fell into foreclosure in Colorado Springs and surrounding communities totaled 79 last month, a roughly 20% drop from April 2017.

A special agent who used to work for an investigative arm of Immigration and Customs Enforcement pleaded guilty to defrauding Freddie Mac and SunTrust Mortgage through a short sale.

For decades, the single-family house surrounded by a white picket fence has symbolized the American dream of home ownership.

March's increase in foreclosure starts was a direct result of the end of the moratorium for borrowers affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, Black Knight said.

Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns and the Western New York Law Center announced a partnership with Columbia Law School to help local municipalities with limited resources track and monitor zombie home foreclosures.

The city is using its blight ordinance to pressure the owner of the Hartford 21 tower to do something with another prominent but deteriorating building near Bushnell Park: the former YMCA building.

Despite soaring home prices, other factors needed to inflate a housing bubble are absent from the real estate market. But experts warn falling home values and rising mortgage defaults are inevitable, even if conditions naturally cool off.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac had a 9% increase in total foreclosure prevention actions taken during 2017 as a result of three September hurricanes, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.