Bubble-era purchases of second homes in Macon, Swain, Jackson, and Haywood counties still can’t afford the taxes. Some haven’t paid in five years. Some abandon the properties, others try to defer paying until they sell the property. Either way, the local governments are hurting for revenues. Macon County can garnish wages or withdraw needed funds from the owners’ bank accounts without their permission. But that only works if the owners live in North Carolina. County leadership therefore contracted with Ridenhour & Goss to foreclose on properties and bill the owners $200/hour for attorney fees to boot.