The First Time I Saw Someone Walk Away from a House (And Why It Changed Me)

[David Litt]

A few years back, I was doing a walk-through of a property in a neighborhood I didn’t know very well. The seller wasn’t there, but one of the neighbors came outside — older guy, friendly, looked like he’d been on that block for decades.

We got to talking, and he casually mentioned that this was the third family to leave that house in less than ten years. “Not sold,” he said. “Just walked away.”

At first, I assumed he was exaggerating. But then he told me something I didn’t expect:

That stuck with me.

I think a lot of people on this platform understand the mechanics of foreclosure. The spreadsheets, the court timelines, the auction risk. But it’s easy to forget the emotional side — the pride, shame, confusion, paralysis — that makes people wait until it’s too late.

I’m not sure there’s a perfect answer. But I’ve started paying closer attention to the early signals. And more than anything, I try to remind myself that behind every deal is a story most people don’t talk about until after it’s over.

Curious if any of you have had moments like this — where someone else’s situation completely shifted how you look at this business?