Portland officials are preparing to auction a group of vacant properties with outstanding municipal code violations. The foreclosure sale is scheduled for June 16 at City Hall and will include six properties approved for sale by the Portland City Council, according to the City of Portland.
Kevin Foster, the City’s foreclosure prevention manager, highlighted the issue, stating, "Vacant and distressed properties often present major problems for the neighbors and neighborhoods in our community. When property owners are unwilling to work with us to correct the code violations, foreclosure sales are one tool that can help move properties back into productive use," in a statement obtained by the City of Portland. Including both properties that remained unsold in previous auctions and new additions to the list, the sale offers an opportunity for new investments in the city.
Foreclosure becomes an option after prolonged periods of unpaid code violation fines and liens. The impact of these properties on the surrounding neighborhood is also a factor in the decision-making process. Portland's code enforcement is largely based on community complaints, with details on how to report violations available on the city’s website.
Last year, Portland City Council amended the foreclosure process, significantly reducing the period a property owner has for settling accounts post-auction. It went from one year down to a strict three-month period—a decision that highlights the city's commitment to efficient property turnover, as mentioned on the city's website.
The list of properties included in the sale may change, as owners have until the sale date to pay off their debts and remove their properties from the foreclosure list. Information and updates about the properties scheduled for the June 16 foreclosure event are available on the City of Portland’s announcement page.
