“I Thought We Had Time…” — A Quiet Foreclosure Story That Still Haunts Me

[David Litt]

A few years back, I walked through a two-bedroom bungalow that looked like time had stopped.

The curtains were still drawn. A calendar hung on the fridge with hopeful notes—“call plumber,” “ask about refinance,” “get school supplies.” But no one lived there anymore. The lock had changed, the bank had taken over, and what was once a home now sat in legal limbo.

The owner had equity. They weren’t in over their head with the loan. But they missed a few payments after a medical emergency, stopped opening letters, and assumed they had time to figure it out.

I’ve seen flips, short sales, and investment opportunities. But this wasn’t that. This was grief in drywall form.

I’m sharing this not as a cautionary tale for profit—but to ask: have you ever walked into a house and felt what it meant to lose it?

I wonder how many people are sitting in homes right now, thinking they’ll figure it out tomorrow. I wonder how we reach them before the calendar pages stop turning.

[Jeremy Horton]

From what I understand foreclosures take time - I mean they didn't just "stop" opening mail. This takes serious negligence, in one form or another. 

Yes, foreclosures are sad. Should they lose their property if they don't pay for it? Yes. Is it still sad, yes. I bought a foreclosure about 2 years ago that was this way - silverware still there, kids stickers on the wall, butterfly ceiling fan...then the struggle - a bunch of mail in the closet...house not being paid, utility warnings, car payments late, etc. 

At least in the US, you have the right to the "pursuit of happiness". This doesn't mean you'll be happy nor do you have a right to be happy. 

That is just life. I mean people are born in Africa that have to walk miles just to fill up buckets to have drinking water. Kids that have to hide at night or get taken by militia groups and recruited in war. Kids stuck in foster houses getting abused with no way out. Kids with drug addict parents. People are born with disabilities, limited from the onset. It is impossible to end all hardship/suffering - and that is just part of life. 

Regardless, society has made it much easier for most people, in most cases - imagine if the less fortunate weren't supported by the rest of society to some degree. It could be much worse.