Rudy Darden, 27, was among the busload of potential buyers hoping to snap up a home for a fraction of its original value.
“I wasn’t expecting to see new carpet, tile and appliances in a foreclosed house,” said Darden, an Orlando newlywed and first-time home buyer, as he inspected a house in the Waterford Trails subdivision
The group spent several hours in and out of each house, examining kitchens, bathrooms and back yards. Many homes reflected the desperation the former home owners who have been forced to leave. Some had damaged carpets, walls and cooking appliances.
“This is a nice neighbourhood,” said Leda Altidor, 33, a mother of three, as she and two of her daughters approached a Tudor-inspired house with a large kitchen and spacious master bathroom.
“I feel bad for the people that lost their homes,” said Altidor, who does accounting for a Christian ministry. “But if I can get a home for a good price, I’m all for it.”
In one house, the residents expressed their frustration by hammering holes in the walls, staining the carpet and damaging the stove before leaving their home to the bank that held the mortgage.
BRITISH HOME SALES Florida, the estate agency arm of the Orlando-based British Homes Group, though association with the Florida Multiple Listing Service (“MLS”) has access to wide variety of not only foreclosed properties but also other bargain-priced holiday homes and investment properties throughout Florida. British Home Sales currently have access to over 25,000 residential “listings” in the Orlando area alone.