Posted by MikeC/TX on 2/7/12 6:51pm
Msg #411104

Interesting article on squatters...

This guy paid $16 to live in a house for 8 months...

http://tinyurl.com/6te9cw6

Flower Mound, where this occurred, is a couple of towns over from me. I've read in the local papers recently that this is becoming an issue in this area. Not only are squatters taking over foreclosed homes, but in several cases homeowners have come back from an extended vacation to find the locks changed and someone else living there - and then have to go through all sorts of legal hoops to get their house back. Not sure if it's just a TX thing, or more general fallout from the foreclosure crisis.

Reply by PegiT_MN on 2/7/12 7:19pm
Msg #411105

Wow.....I just googled it.....it seems to be going on all over the country. I haven't heard of this going on in Minnesota.....just the theft of copper out of the foreclosed homes....but you just never know.

Reply by HisHughness on 2/7/12 7:19pm
Msg #411106

***then have to go through all sorts of legal hoops to get their house back.***

This is called "breaking and entering," and in Texas the homeowner is entitled to shoot to kill the perpetrator. Facing a .44 magnum eviction notice oesn't seem like a really smart or successful way to find housing.

Reply by HouTexJoe on 2/8/12 4:05am
Msg #411114

Although the "44 mag eviction notice" is a tried and true method there has been trend recently to employ the "12 guage number 8 shot" legal maneuver first. It has a more wide spread effect and is less likely to impact nearby potential witnesses. The 44 though, is still the preferred method for the up close closing arguments should it get to that. It usually just comes down to personal preference and what works for you.