dilapidated condition, and the ownership and future of the house are unclear. When a home is not foreclosed on, the borrower (generally resident or landlord) is still legally responsible for housing taxes, maintenance, and demolition costs, if the house is condemned. When neither the borrower nor the lender takes responsibility for a house, the city is left with the costs. Prevalence United States The GAO found that in the period January 2008 to March 2010, mortgage servicers charged off 46,000 properties, with 60 percent of the charge-offs occurring before an initial foreclosure filing was made. In this period, Detroit, Michigan had the highest number of bank walkaways, with Chicago, Illinois being second. Resolutions Various resolutions exist, including: mediation between the lender and the borrower dismissal of the foreclosure action completion of the foreclosure (the bank takes ownership), but the home not necessarily subsequently sold. See also Strategic default, opposite situation where the mortgage borrower walks away References Mortgage Foreclosure