The effects of the economic downturn still linger in the housing market. There is still a large inventory of houses in various stages of foreclosure / bank-owned as well as private sales. If the township becomes proactive, and through code enforcement address the blight issues, property values will increase, as well as attracting a better element. High vacancy rates and "days on the market" are detrimental to the remaining property owners as this drives down property values even further. It drives prices down to the point it makes properties more attractive to turn into low-rate rentals.