Detroit squatters may be allowed to keep homes
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Posted: 9:15 AM Feb 6, 2012
Detroit squatters may be allowed to keep homes
Detroit, Mich.
To keep Detroit homes occupied, Wayne County tax officials are willing to make deals for as little as $500.
Reporter: The Associated Press
Email Address: katherine.rufener@wndu.com
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To keep Detroit homes occupied, Wayne County tax officials are willing to make deals for as little as $500.

The Detroit News says the county treasurer's office last week decided to go door-to-door and negotiate with renters, squatters or owners who have defaulted on property taxes. More than 6,000 Detroit homes were unsold at auction last fall.

Deputy treasurer Eric Sabree says a vacant house doesn't help anybody. A similar program last year led to 1,200 sales, with many elderly or poor buyers far behind in taxes.

Wayne County says it will require buyers to keep up with their tax bills for two years.

62-year-old Charles Brown says he's been squatting in a home for a year and making improvements. He says he'd love to keep the property.
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