A reverse mortgage has added up to a neighborhood eyesore in The Villages.
The home at 867 Cortez Ave. in the Village of El Cortez was the subject of a public hearing Monday at the District Office at Brownwood.
A complaint was received in April about the property due to overgrown grass and weeds.
The property is owned by Keith and Mary Jane Adee. Keith Adee died in 2024. Mary Jane Adee appears to have moved to Colorado and has been unreachable, according to testimony presented at the hearing. Utility billing notes reflect a reverse mortgage on the property.
The special master overseeing the hearing granted the homeowner seven days to bring the property back into compliance. Considering Keith Adee is dead and his wife is apparently living out of state, it is unlikely any remedy will be taking place.
The good news for neighbors is that the District will begin maintaining the property at a cost of $250 per occurrence. As the fines add up, a lien will be placed on the home and the District will, hopefully, recover the money at the time the property is eventually sold.