New Paper on Foreclosure Crisis by Prof. Eric Seymour

April 17, 2024

Prof. Eric Seymour co-authors Judged by Their Deeds: Outcomes for Properties Acquired by Contract Sellers Following the Foreclosure Crisis in Detroit

Abstract

Prior research has documented the reemergence of predatory land contracts in majority-Black neighborhoods in the wake of the foreclosure crisis. Though land contracts facilitate property transfers involving lower-value properties and credit-constrained households, they are less regulated and often include risky terms. This paper investigates outcomes associated with properties sold using land contracts signed between 2008 and 2015 in Detroit, leveraging real estate transaction, tax foreclosure, and eviction and land contract forfeiture records. We also assess outcomes for the broader portfolio of properties purchased by large contract sellers. We find that sales by large contract sellers are generally associated with higher odds of near-term failure. We also find that investors using contract sales withheld property taxes on much of their inventory, consistent with a short-term triage-based business strategy. Conversely, the single large non-profit contract seller in our study had a far higher rate of success compared to all other contract sales. These results provide evidence of negative outcomes for sales initiated by problematic entities and supports arguments for stronger regulation of land contracts and upstream interventions to prevent predatory investors from acquiring discounted homes from public and institutional sources.

Read Article

Seymour, E., & Akers, J. (2024). Judged by Their Deeds: Outcomes for Properties Acquired by Contract Sellers Following the Foreclosure Crisis in Detroit. Housing Policy Debate, 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/10511482.2024.2334859

Eric Seymour, PhD. is an Assistant Professor researching community development, housing, informatics, statistical research methods, and GIS

Recent Posts

Heldrich Center: Updated Multi-State Postsecondary Report Released

The Heldrich Center for Workforce Development has announced the release of an updated Multi-State Postsecondary Report, linking postsecondary completion data to employment outcomes across Kentucky, New Jersey, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, and Virginia. This effort...

Cantor, Yedidia Identify Strategies to Provide Health Care to Homeless

Through cooperation, homeless services and health care providers can improve delivery of medical care to a vulnerable population, according to Rutgers researchers published by Rutgers Today, December 17, 2025 Author: Greg Bruno Media Contact: Nicole Swenarton, Rutgers...

“Work Trends RU” Podcast with Beth Simone Noveck, Ph.D.

Beth Simone Noveck, Ph.D., Chief AI Strategist for the State of New Jersey, Guests on Work Trends RU Podcast Listen to the latest episode of the Heldrich Center’s “Work Trends RU” podcast, featuring Beth Simone Noveck, Ph.D., Chief AI Strategist for the State of New...

Prof. Andrews Interviewed About New Jersey’s Propane Emergency

RINGWOOD, N.J. (PIX11) — It’s a phrase that brings to mind natural disasters, like hurricanes or blizzards, but a state of emergency has now gone into effect in New Jersey over propane deliveries. As is the case in most natural disasters, this state of emergency...

Pfeiffer Ranks on List for Local Political Influence (Daily Targum)

By Daniel Ovadia Dec. 9, 2025, 8:04 p.m. Marc Pfeiffer, a senior policy fellow and associate director of Bloustein Local — a unit of Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy's Center for Urban Policy Development — was recently ranked on the Insider 100...