The banks are responsible for upkeep, but the local governments have to get on their case. In my town they would have already received the “you clean it, or we will” letters, and the town puts a pretty high price on cleaning up property.

Abandoned property is not a good idea in Florida. I have done a number of rehabs with/for a friend, and after a month the humidity takes its toll. If the power is out and the refrigerator is closed, you usually have to junk it, because the mildew will take over. Same in the bathrooms. If you are lucky you can clean the carpet, but I wouldn’t count on it.

The water dries out in the traps in the sewage system, and the sewer smell will enter the house.

It doesn’t take long to really damage a vacant house, even if no one breaks in and vandalizes it.

I don’t see the point in foreclosing if the bank isn’t prepared to put the house on the market. They would be better off doing a mortgage modification, if at all possible, to maintain cash flow, and keep the house “alive”.