woman hasn't made a mortgage payment since 1985, still lives in house

[Liberal_in_LA]

By ROBBIE WHELAN
OKEECHOBEE COUNTY, Fla.—Patsy Campbell could tell you a thing or two about fighting foreclosure. She's been fighting hers for 25 years.

The 71-year-old retired insurance saleswoman has been living in her house, a two-story on a half acre in a tidy middle-class neighborhood here in central Florida, since 1978. The last time she made a mortgage payment was October 1985.


And yet Ms. Campbell has been able to keep her house, protected by a 105-pound pit bull named Dodger and a locked, rusty gate advising visitors to beware of the dog.

"They're not going to take this house," says Ms. Campbell. "I intend to stay in this house and maintain it as my residence until I die."

Ms. Campbell's foreclosure case has outlasted two marriages, three recessions and four presidents. She has seen seven great-grandchildren born, plum real-estate markets come and go and the ownership of her mortgage change six times. Many Florida real-estate lawyers say it is the longest-lasting foreclosure case they have ever heard of.

The story of how Ms. Campbell has managed to avoid both paying her mortgage and losing her home, which is currently assessed at more than $203,000, is a cautionary tale for lenders that cut corners and followed sloppy practices when originating, processing and servicing mortgages. Lenders are especially vulnerable in the 23 states, including Florida, that require foreclosures to be approved by a judge.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703865004575648900250047766.html

[TorchTheWitch]

1. 105 lbs? That's a cross breed

Pitbulls rarely get over about 50-60 lbs. and are usually even smaller. The biggest one I ever heard of was around 80 and only really because he was a waaaaay overfed lazy fatso.

This lady wouldn't have lasted a week where I live. The sheriff would have just brought in the animal control and seized the dog even if they had to use the tranq gun.

[SoCalNative]

2. It's not the dog

keeping them from foreclosing. It's a 25 year legal battle.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. I have sympathy for people fighting to keep their homes...

But for her I've got none. She's a freeloader who thinks she has some right to get something for free that everyone else has to pay for.

[bahrbearian]

7. +1

[Greyhound]

12. And that's why crab buckets don't have lids. n/t

[Xenotime]

4. Good to see the little man...er..woman get ahead.

[OregonBlue]

5. I read the whole story and it had me laughing out loud. She's been beating them at their own game

for 25 years. K & R.

[Taverner]

6. She's another American Hero

[OregonBlue]

8. Hope she keeps it up until the day she goes to meet her maker!!

[Historic NY]

9. so does she even pay local taxes?

[flvegan]

10. Her property taxes are paid, yes.

She's due for her 2010 taxes, but otherwise current.

[Greyhound]

16. Of course.

:kick:

[SoCalDem]

11. Is she related to the Jarndyce family?

:rofl:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-JarndycevJarndyce.html=rja

[Scruffy1]

15. A Cousin I think

[Greyhound]

13. K&R.

[Catherina]

14. Good for her. No reward for sloppy vultures. n/t

[Laelth]

17. Easier to get away with murder than it is to cheat a bank. I wish her luck. n/t

-Laelth