Evicted Family Breaks Into Foreclosed Home

Just as new owners were about to move in, the previous owners of a foreclosed house in Simi Valley, Calif. reoccupied it with locksmith, attorney and camera crew in tow.

Investors who had purchased the home at a lender's trustee sale had been hoping to have its new owners in it this week. But Jim and Danielle Earl and their nine children returned to the home because, she says, she believes it will be difficult for their family to find another permanent place to live if they comply with a court order to vacate the home. That order, says their lawyer, was the end result of fraud.

"They broke in and are proceeding to squat in there," listing agent Chris Garvin of Troop Real Estate, told HousingWatch.

The Earls originally purchased the house for $500,000 in March 2001. Due to some refinances to take out equity, they owed at least $880,000 on a no-interest mortgage loan by the time of foreclosure.