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

A photographer has revealed a "captivating portrait" of America's abandoned homes, left to slowly rot after being deserted by their former owners.

From once-grand mansions that are slowly retreating into their natural surroundings to family homes that still bear many signs of the gatherings that once took place inside their walls, one thing is clear from Bryan Sansivero's stark photos: No property is safe from true abandonment.

For more than 10 years, Sansivero journeyed across the U.S. to shine a spotlight on these long-forgotten dwellings, 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 scattered across a room, decades after anyone stepped into it.

The properties captured by Sansivero are in various stages of decay. Some have been left abandoned for so long that they have caved in completely, long surpassing the stage where renovation or restoration might have saved them.

Others stand much as they once did, with their peeling paint and overgrown gardens serving as the only signs of something amiss.

But for Sansivero, it is the stories behind the closed doors that draw him into these homes—and have inspired 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 drawn largely to residential homes, many of which still have traces of their former residents—from furniture to knickknacks.

Interestingly, those kind of properties were not always easy to find, with the photographer revealing that many abandoned homes face vandalism from urban explorers who seek out disused properties like a competitive sport so they can be the first to post them online.

Sansivero, however, wants no part in that kind of race for viral fame.

"I can find a dozen or more houses exploring in a day and not want to photograph anything, because it’s an empty shell or it’s been trashed—it’s not telling a story about the previous owner," he explained. "I’m interested in what happened, why it was left like this."

With foreclosures steadily rising across the U.S., Sansivero's photos also reveal a glimpse into what could become a growing trend as more families are forced out of their homes amid heightened affordability pressures.

Now, Realtor.com® lifts the lid on some of his most dramatic images—and the picture they paint of "America abandoned."