HUD's Inventory of Acquired Houses in the Columbus, Ohio, Area

As part of an examination of the processes the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) follows in acquiring, preserving, and disposing of single family houses, HUD's inventory of acquired houses in the Columbus, Ohio, area office were compared with those recorded in HUD's name at the Franklin County courthouse. The comparison showed that HUD was the owner on record of 27 properties not included in its inventory, and courthouse records indicated that some of these properties had been transferred to HUD as early as 1972 and 1973. Five of the properties had never been included in HUD's inventory; 4 were awaiting title opinion and/or approval; and 18 were shown on HUD records as having been sold. Reconciliation of HUD inventory records with county records should include an analysis of whether HUD has title to the five properties for which there is no record of ownership and the four properties awaiting title opinions or approval. It should also be determined if HUD sold the 18 properties; if so, HUD should be removed as the owner of record.