NBR - My neighbors are losing their house :(

NJBrit

I feel terrible... I just got a letter in the mail from our neighbors that they are losing their house for financial reasons. They didn't go into specifics, but they said this has been in dispute for over fourteen years, and between the cost of interest and penalties and both of their surgeries (both have had open heart surgery recently) they can't afford to keep the house any longer. 

They are required to be out of the house by November 3rd, and there will be an estate sale in the next few weeks. They have lived in this house for 35 years, and it's the house they raised their children in (they are in their 60's).

DH and I had joked in the past that we hoped eventually they'd move out and a younger family would move in, but recently we've been getting closer to them and they had even offered to drive me to the hospital and help out with the kids when I'm in the hospital. I feel like such a witch for even thinking those things now

I think I'm going to make them a few meals and send the kids over with a card later. I have no idea how to approach them.  

elizjane26

That's awful. I'm sure they would appreciate the meals.

atownpreggo

That is so sad!!  We had the same thing happen to some neighbors.  This economy sucks!

trinity0906

That's terrible! I wouldn't know what to do either, but you idea of meals and a card is sweet. I'm sure they will appreciate the gesture.

nohalo21

I think a meal and a card to say you are thinking of them would be a nice gesture. It sounds like such a sad unfortunate chain of events and that might cheer them up, even for a bit.

JD807

I think you are doing the right thing...absolutely. You don't need to worry about not making the right move, chances are that them just knowing you are thinking of them will bring a smile to their faces. This happened to us last year, my open heart surgery was $144,000...after insurance (thank God for that) we still ended up owing over $4500...and every time we paid off the whole bill, we'd get a bill for hundreds more. This happened the year that my DH lost his job and had just gotten a new job right before my surgery was needed. I'm only 27, we weren't prepared to lose our entire savings and then some on it...and just hearing that people were thinking about us...and having a meal so we could take the stress off of not having to cook or worry about groceries for a night or so...that took so much off our shoulders.