Eerie Photos Tell the Sad Truth About America’s Abandoned Homes

A photographer has revealed a “breathtaking image” of abandoned American homes, left to slowly rot after being abandoned by their previous owners.

From mansions that are slowly returning to their natural habitat to family homes that still bear many signs of the gatherings that once took place within their walls, one thing is clear Bryan Sansivero‘s stark images: No asset is safe from real abandonment.

For more than 10 years, Sansivero traveled across the US to shine a light on these forgotten homes, which take center stage in his recently released book, “America the Abandoned: Captivating Portraits of Deserted Homes.”

Many of the photos capture a frozen moment in time, showing family belongings still strewn about the room, decades after anyone entered it.

The buildings occupied by Sansivero are in various stages of decay. Some have been abandoned for so long that they have completely sunk, long past the stage where repair or rehabilitation might save them.

Others stand as they have, with their peeling paint and overgrown gardens the only signs that something is amiss.

But for Sansivero, it’s the stories behind closed doors that draw him to these homes—and inspire him to share them with the world.

“It’s about capturing these time capsules; these lost places,” he told CNN. “I like the mystery of not knowing what you’re going to find.”

For that reason, Sansivero found himself particularly drawn to the residences, many of which still bear traces of their former inhabitants—from the furniture to the dining room.

Interestingly, those buildings weren’t always easy to find, with the photographer revealing that many abandoned homes face vandalism by urban explorers looking for abandoned properties as a competitive game to be the first to post them online.

Sansivero, however, does not want to take part in that kind of viral fame race.

“I can get a dozen or more houses inspected in one day and they don’t want to photograph anything, because it’s an empty or abandoned shell—it doesn’t tell the story of the previous owner,” he explained. “I’m interested in what happened, why it was left like this.”

As foreclosures slowly rise across the US, Sansivero’s photos also reveal glimpses of what could be a growing trend as more families are forced out of their homes amid heightened affordability pressures.

Now, Realtor.com® is lifting the lid on some of his most striking images—and the picture that paints “America is doomed.”