There are believed to be 18,821 zombie properties in California. If a bank notifies an owner that there is going to be a foreclosure sale on their home, the owner may move out but the bank doesn’t follow through with the foreclosure.
The home is left without anyone to maintain it or paying property taxes. The unsuspecting owner may later find that he still owns the property when legal action is taken to recover past due taxes and other bills related to the property. The owners wages may be garnished, his credit destroyed and tax refunds seized.
Cities are often forced to deal with the problems of the zombie property.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/28/us-usa-housing-zombies-idUSBRE92R0YQ20130328