Investigating the experience of repossession: A Swedish example

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
In the beginning of the 1980s, the recession in the Swedish economy increased the risks involved in home ownership and a growing number of households were forced into foreclosures. As very little was known in Sweden about housing repossession at that time, an exploratory study was initiated in 1987 with the purpose of examining the experiences of foreclosure, especially from the house owner's point of view. The County of Gävleborg was chosen as the location of the study, where 103 single‐family houses were repossessed between 1984 and 1986. Telephone interviews were made with women and men in one‐third of the households. A methodological discussion of how to investigate peoples’ experiences of repossession is presented and arguments offered for why a qualitative approach is convenient in this case. Three examples of how foreclosure may be initiated are discussed. The distressing experience of having one's home repossessed is related to the discussion of gender and home ownership evident in battles among spouses over household expenses. Finally, interpretations of various outcomes of the crises are discussed.