When My father-in-law died two years ago, he was already behind on his mortgage. His house was in disrepair, small leaks despite the "new" roof, concrete drive was beyond recovery and pitched toward his foundation. The north wall of which was bowing and the south wall cracked, vertically and horizontally, in several places.
He would not let us fix it, and would not move in with us. This even though his house was across our street and he spent most of his time in our house.
He had not paid the HOA for years. And had a second mortgage.
In good shape the house was worth about $180K. He owes $130K. To meet code would require about $110K in repairs and code compliance. Flippers told me the needed $40K to bring into sellable condition.
In other words, it was so far underwater nobody wanted it.
Last month, the county cited code violation. The only legitimate ones were electrical and a cracked driveway. Curiously, they weren't wasn't cited. A leaky gutter, two bush branches in a former fire pit, faded paint and a broken fascia board were.
My wife is on the deed but has no financial connection. With no interest in the property ourselves, we turned it over to the bank/mortgage company two years ago. They have never executed foreclosure in all that time.
Meanwhile, I have paid the electric and gas bill to keep the house warm and lights on. I mow the yard and trim bushes. I even stabilized a brick wall that was falling off the front of the house and re-secured it to the structure. All to keep the neighbors from complaining.
Yet one did and now I have a huge fine accumulating daily until I bring the property to code. Roof, basement, Driveway and paint=at least $40K.
But good news today. At least I hope so. Nine certified letters all saying the exact same thing. The house will be sold by the new mortgage holder on the county courthouse steps on August fifth, 2020.
I do hope this gets the county off my back.
My, I'm getting lazy in my old age. 
