What's wrong with our laws

[Willy]

Where are the laws to protect homeowners

[Willy]

This is another example of progressive type laws which protect the aggressor but do little for the aggrieved. It's a sad state of affairs when someone can break into your home then claim it and then it's up to you to take them to court to move them out. In Michigan and many other states the victim has few rights while the perpetrator can run roughshod over whom ever they please with the protection of the law.

[XLFD]

Incredible story, Willy, and this is all due to some short-sighted policy by the Wayne County Treasurer's office that says occupants of thousands of Motor City homes that didn't sell at a tax auction can purchase their abodes for $500. That includes squatters, renters and owners who didn't pay taxes.  This February 2012 article  says among other crazy things: 

In a stark sign that paying property taxes is optional for some in Detroit, Wayne County Treasury officials decided last week its workers will go door-to-door to some of the 6,500 city properties unsold at last fall's tax auctions and offer to make a deal with whoever is living inside. That could include renters, squatters or the owners who defaulted on their taxes. 

[Willy]

Thanks for that information and link X. Another main problem that lead to the decline of Detroits  housing is the fact that all 1 and 2 family houses sold in Detroit require a City inspection and the repair of any violations found during that inspection. All repairs are required to be completed according to Detroits codes before the house  can be sold. This has been a major obstacle to the selling and purchasing of a home in Detroit and in my opinion has hurt rather than helped to improve Detroits housing stock. A single family house costs $295 to inspect and a 2 family dwelling cost $355 to have a  City inspector come out and check the house  for code violations. If violations are found then those repairs must be completed and permits pulled before approval to sell the house is given. Licensed contractors are required to perform the repairs and most of them are union so the cost of those repairs can be quite high. In a sane society a home buyer would hire their own inspector and negotiate the cost of any necessary repairs with the home owner, however in a liberal, progressive City like Detroit, common  sense went out the window. So, along with this over burdensome expense and the housing crash the citizens of  Detroit just couldn't cope and houses were abandoned because for a home owner to have a house that is worth less than what is owed on it, plus the inspection and repairs that are required made the selling of their home a financial disaster.

[XLFD]

Extremely good points.  You can generally trace the downfall of a city to the well-intentioned policies of the local government that went too far, alienated the business climate, and/or had unintended consequences.  Detroit is hopelessly mired in the progressive policies of modern municipal Democrats and their special interest groups, and won't change until most all of them are driven out by the despair they created.