Tarrant County foreclosures

Homeowners across Tarrant County are grappling with fallout from the foreclosure crisis, from trashed and deserted houses that diminish home values to an influx of rats and vandalism.

Cities often send inspectors to ensure that homes are maintained, but enforcement gets difficult when owners can't be located.

Residents in four areas of the county have each handled the crisis in different ways. And the news is not all bad.

Some were able to buy houses at bargain prices. But while the homes remain empty, they are a daily reminder that neighbors and friends face hard times.

This map offers a look at foreclosure rates by area in Tarrant County:

SOURCE: All America Title Service of North Richland Hills; Star-Telegram analysis

• Foreclosures in Tarrant County are reshaping neighborhoods
• Foreclosures taking an especially heavy toll on far north Fort Worth ZIP code
• Empty house doesn't go unnoticed
• 3,550-square-foot house sells for $131,000
• Neighbors try to prevent blight in their subdivision