Foreclosure Crisis Hitting Home, Resident Tells Council

Although the housing crisis affecting real estate markets throughout the U.S. has not been as severe in the Lehigh Valley as in other parts of the country, impact from foreclosures is now being felt even in idyllic, established neighborhoods such as Hellertown's Mountainview section, borough resident Joe Delfoe told Hellertown Borough Council July 5.

Delfoe, of the 800 block of Maple Road, approached council during the courtesies of the floor portion of its meeting to discuss a vacant, bank-owned property that neighbors his.

The home, at 844 Maple Road, was listed as Sale #108 12/10 on the Northampton County website's Sheriff's Sales page earlier this year.

According to information on that website, the amount of debt accrued on the property was nearly $280,000 as of February.

The property is sealed up, and although the exterior and grounds are being maintained by "two guys from Hazleton," Delfoe said he is concerned about the deteriorating condition of the home's interior.

"This house is filthy inside," he said.

After councilwoman Gail Nolf asked him if the house is emitting an unpleasant odor, Delfoe said he was unsure if any odor could be detected from outside the property.

Borough Zoning and Codes Enforcement Officer Joe Chernaskey told council he is familiar with the property, and said he has been in contact with a San Diego representative for Bank of America, which owns it.

"They will not sell that house till the market gets to the point where they can get their money," he said.

Chernaskey added that the exterior of the property is in compliance with borough codes.

In order to access the interior, the borough needs to be able to show "probable cause" that the interior is not in compliance, Borough Council Solicitor Michael Corriere said.

Even then, the borough will need to obtain a warrant from a district magistrate in order to enter the house, he added.

After Corriere said he could try to obtain a warrant, councilwoman Gail Nolf said she believed he should.

"I think we need to draw a line in the sand right here and do this," she said. 

Chernaskey expressed skepticism, however, that the borough will ultimately be able to take action, telling her, "we can't force somebody to try and sell a home."

"I'm not saying to sell the home," she responded.

Chernaskey then said that in his judgment, even showing probable cause will be a difficult road to travel.

"A smelly house is not probable cause," he said. "The house meets the criteria from the outside."

Corriere asked Delfoe to send him a list of things he believes are wrong with the property and said he would talk to the solicitor for Bank of America about the home.

Doing that "is worth a shot," Chernaskey conceded.

Council Vice President John Bate was cautious in his assessment of the borough's involvement in the matter.

"I think it's a fine line that we're walking," he said.

Delfoe observed that the home's condition "is only getting worse," and said passersby don't realize it's for sale because there's no sign outside it.

The home was last occupied in 2008, he said.

After the meeting, Chernaskey said about 15 homes in the borough are currently in foreclosure.