zombie foreclosures

Among counties nationwide with at least 500 properties in foreclosure in the third quarter, New Jersey claimed three of the five lowest zombie rates.

Atlantic County is about to "put its foot down" in dealing with so-called, "zombie properties," abandoned by their owners or foreclosed by banks and left to become a blight on neighborhoods.

While the New Jersey housing market recovers from a slide in home prices, the Garden State continues to grapple with "zombie foreclosures."

They are called, "zombie foreclosures" -- properties abandoned by the owner while the bank plays out the process. New Jersey is second in the nation behind Florida with this type of foreclosure, according to recent data.

New Jersey is third in the nation for its number of so-called "zombie foreclosures," properties stuck in the foreclosure process for so long that both the bank and the owner have abandoned them.