@Beedazzled I have a bit of involvement with empty homes. Unfortunately a huge number of these are locked in probate. I think that after a decent time - say a year - these should be compulsorily liquidated and the property sold.
An equally huge number are empty because the householder is in long-term care or prison which is a little more thorny to deal with, but if we can get the probate properties and various others back that would be a huge benefit.