Wow. You probably do not want to be a homeowner in any sort of financial distress in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Minneapolis, for example, now charges a $1,000 fee to change a vacant house from homestead to rental. The idea is to discourage such conversions. The city also imposes a hefty $6,000 annual fee on vacant property owners under certain conditions. That helps the city cover the costs of boarding up abandoned homes as well of maintenance tasks such as mowing and shoveling. Vacant houses can also affect policing costs when they attract drug dealing, vandalism or other illegal activity. According to housing officials, that high fee has prompted several owners to turn properties over to the city. via the Star Tribune

Think about it, you are in a bad way financially. Lost your job, bad loan, divorce, and you know that keeping your home is not an option. Housing market is slow so you know that selling is not an option because the kitchen is straight from the 1970’s.

So you decide to rent, but you better not move before the home is rented. Otherwise the city will slap a $1,000 fee on you faster than you can blink. And if you leave the house empty (can’t find a tenant?), try a $6,000 fee on for size.

The city of Minneapolis will get you other ways too, out of town and the kid down the street forgets to shovel you out? Better whip out your checkbook because you own the mayor $300.

I can understand why the cities want to maintain a quality of life and keep up their community, but the reality is the heavy handed, government getting into your pocket at every opportunity, approach by Minneapolis turns me off.

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