Officials in Rocky Mount are facing mounting complaints about dilapidated homes and are exploring their options for dealing with the problem.

Some homes could be condemned and razed -- officials have a list that includes four properties that they believe are condemnable now. Other options include offering tax abatements to entice owners to make repairs, or making the repairs at town expense and placing a lein on the property to recover the costs.

Derelict properties can pull down the value of surrounding homes and lead to an entire neighborhood's downward slide. Government intervention in property maintenance can seem extreme, but it may be necessary to preserve healthy neighborhood real estate markets.

Read more in The Franklin News-Post....