What I have seen more than I’d like to admit, though, is the rate that minorities lose their properties, to tax sales or otherwise.  Here’s what I see  more than anything:  Mom owns her home.  She lives there for 70 years and has paid off her mortgage.   She passes away with no will and 5 children.  The children decide that one relative will live there.  That relative lives there for 20 more years, then dies with 3 children.  Her children now share in the ownership of this home with their living aunts and uncles.  Now we have 7 owners for one house.  What happens next is what is so typical:  Nobody agrees about what to do with the house so nothing happens for 10 more years.  Meanwhile, the house is still in Mom’s name.