There are two foreclosed houses down the road from our home. One is being maintained and is for sale, going on 2 years now. The other was maintained for a couple of years and then has been 'let go' for 3 years. I know of a family that needs housing for three months. They have been and would be considerate, clean tenants. Could they move into the vacant house, establish electricity, and take care of the place as it deserves, without permission from the foreign bank that owns the house?

Can they sure, it is called criminal trespass, so at any time they can be thrown out. After that if they do any clean up or put any repair, they just lose it.

It happens all the time here in Atlanta , but a little different, someone finds a home like that but rents it to someone, the people who are renting ( from someone not the owner) fix it up and when the owner finds out, they have the people removed by the police for tresspass.

As Chuck said its called trespassing and is a criminal offense.