DALLAS – Drive into Hacienda del Sol subdivision and it looks like a scene from the California housing crisis.
It’s a three-year-old Dallas subdivision frozen in time. Phone books are still sacked on the front porch. Kitchens have no cooks. The houses, located in a subdivision in southeast Dallas near Balch Springs and Highway 175, never became homes.
"It\'s quiet, very quiet because there have been no neighbors for two and a half years," said Carol Jones, a homeowner.
That\'s how long Jones has lived on Galicia Lane – practically alone.
"Well, we once had neighbors,” she said. “All the houses went into foreclosure."
Now, they\'re going up for auction. Four houses on her street and another four around the corner.
It’s a rare North Texas subdivision hit hard by the housing slump.
Thirty-two homes have been built in this subdivision and neighbors figure about half are empty. But Saturday morning eight homes go up for auction. The starting bid for a home will be $1,000.
Real Estate Disposition Corporation, or REDC as the auction firm is known, is selling the homes that were once valued at up to $200,000.
"That\'s the great thing about REDC,” said Chris Alcedo, REDC Vice-President. “What we\'re looking to do is help our clients move that inventory they couldn\'t sell previously and turn those houses back in to homes."
It\'s uncertain what happened to the developer in the subdivision. Neighbors said the office closed a year ago and some lots never were developed.
"I just hope for some neighbors,” Jones said. “I really do. I just hope for some neighbors and hope everything goes well."
Lately, it hasn\'t.
With few around to protect property, thieves stole copper from air conditioners at vacant homes. It\'s something Jones is confident new neighbors will change.
The auction is at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the Hyatt Hotel in the downtown Dallas.