By Casey Nolen
Oakville, MO (KSDK) - Those who live there say there's a lot to like about an Oakville neighborhood.
Since her next door neighbors lost their home to foreclosure in 2009, Michele Polzin says the house has fallen apart.
"It's not improving property value for sure," said Polzin.
And is dragging the neighborhood down with it. A retaining wall in the back yard is failing, threatening Polzin's property.
And after three winters with no heat, pipes are broken, mold is growing and repair bills are mounting to an estimated $25,000 according to the listing agent.
The realtor for the home says he tried and failed to get the company that hired him to pay for repairs. But New Vista Asset Management says Bank of America actually owns the home and is responsible for its up-keep.
Bank of America says it's inspecting and maintaining more than one million properties each month.
How this one slipped through the cracks for nearly three years, they're not sure. But by email, a representative says the bank has "asked (its) property preservation (department) to visit and address this property."
"My hope is that someone gets on the ball and fixes the yard. What I'm bracing myself for is a potential problem in my own yard," said Polzin.
Since we first visited this neighborhood, the agent says he has found a buyer for the house. Now he just hopes the sale doesn't fall through because of the condition of the house.
St. Louis County did write some citations on the house, but they say it's hard to enforce when the home is bank owned.
A realtor said me complaints from neighbors, in writing, can actually have more leverage.
KSDK