Can a Wisconsin foreclosure move faster when the house is abandoned?
Yes. If the lender or the local government shows the court that the owner has abandoned the house, the sheriff's sale can be held any time after five weeks from the judgment.
For an owner-occupied home of one to four units, the usual wait before a sale is six months after judgment for mortgages signed on or after April 27, 2016, and twelve months for older ones.
Abandoned means the owner has given up possession or control, even if they haven't given up title. A representative of the local government can give the court testimony or evidence about whether the house has been abandoned.
- The court looks at all the circumstances, including boarded or damaged windows and doors, doors missing or left without being locked, and shut-off utility accounts.
- Piled-up trash, at least two police reports of trespassing or vandalism, and unsafe or unsanitary conditions also count.
The lender then has twelve months to either hold the sale and get it confirmed, or release the mortgage and have the judgment vacated. If the lender does neither within twelve months, any party or the local government can ask the court to order a sale.
Can a Wisconsin city ask a court for a receiver to fix a nuisance house?
When a residential property is alleged to be a nuisance, the city, village or town can ask the circuit court to appoint a receiver to fix the problem. The court picks a housing or redevelopment authority, or a nonprofit focused on improving local housing, as the receiver.
At least 60 days before applying, the local government must mail written notice to the owners, their agents and anyone with a recorded interest. It can't apply if a lender or land contract seller is already pursuing a foreclosure or forfeiture in a timely way.
The receiver can take possession and control of the property, pay its back property taxes, and hire contractors to do the work. If the property is unoccupied, fixing the nuisance can include tearing down some or all of the buildings.
Costs the court approves that stay unpaid become a judgment and a lien on the property. Apart from property tax and assessment liens and certain purchase-money loans, that lien ranks ahead of all other liens and mortgages, no matter when they attached.
How can a Wisconsin city make an owner repair or raze a dilapidated house?
A city's building inspector can order the owner of a building that is old, dilapidated, unsafe and unreasonable to repair to raze it, or, if reasonable repairs would make it safe, to either fix it or raze it. If the owner doesn't comply in time, the inspector can have the building razed or secured.
Repairs are presumed unreasonable when they would cost more than half the building's value, figured from its assessed value adjusted by the state's ratio for that municipality. A raze order is also allowed when normal construction on a building has stopped for more than two years.
The cost can be charged against the land as a lien and collected as a special charge. An owner can ask the circuit court to block the order; the hearing is held within 20 days, and the court decides whether the order is reasonable.
A separate procedure covers buildings so run down that damaged or missing windows, doors or fixtures blight the neighborhood. A building declared unfit and unreasonable to repair under the raze law is a public nuisance and can be pursued as one.
What happens when property taxes go unpaid on a Wisconsin house?
The county can end up owning it. A tax certificate is issued each September 1, and two years later the county can take a tax deed on any property that hasn't been redeemed.
Anyone can redeem before the tax deed is recorded by paying the county treasurer the unpaid taxes plus interest, penalty and other authorized charges. Partial payments of at least $20 are allowed, but they don't extend the redemption period.
The owner must be served a notice saying the county will apply for a tax deed three months after the notice is served.
After taking a tax deed, the county must notify the former owner by registered or certified mail that they may be entitled to a share of the money from a later sale. If the former owner doesn't claim that payment within a year after it is mailed, it becomes unclaimed funds.
The county board decides how its tax-deeded land is sold, and can use open or closed bids or real estate brokers.
Sitting on a Wisconsin house nobody lives in, with mortgage payments piling up? See how Wisconsin foreclosure works, step by step.
How do you report a run-down property in Eau Claire, Wisconsin?
Eau Claire says the fastest way to report a problem property is its SeeClickFix portal or app, where you can mark the spot and attach a photo.
Complaints can also be made in person, in writing or by phone, with the property's address, a detailed description, and how long you've seen the problem. You don't have to give your name, though it helps the city follow up.
Serious health and safety risks go to the top of the list, and the first step on any complaint is an inspection by city staff. If there's a violation, the city generally issues a notice telling the owner or tenant to correct it in a timely manner.
You can also tell me where it is. I'll find out who owns it and reach out about buying it and fixing it up.