I live in CA now and have some friends there who I believe invested in some of these worthless properties. They are still trying to offload them! It was total scam they bought into, and the scammer (thought they) got away with millions. They've since been caught bankrupted, and forced to repay the victims for the rest of their life. Of course, the money they scammed was spent.

PLEASE don't trash the properties if you visit!!! My friends, and others who were scammed, are stuck with the high mortgages, and are doing their best to stay out of bankruptcy themselves! They need to be able to sell them in good condition to at least break even. Look, but don't touch :)