Fred Weisfuss and his wife Natalie Weisfuss talk about the issue with their property while at the Bremen Township Assessor's office in Markham, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Fred Weisfuss walks on his property in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Natalie Weisfuss

Fred Weisfuss walks on his property in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Fred Weisfuss and his wife Natalie Weisfuss walk on their property in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Fred Weisfuss

Fred Weisfuss stands next to a sailboat on his property in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Natalie Weisfuss stands on their property in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. The structure in the background was their first home | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Fred Weisfuss talks about one of the tractors on his property in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Fred Weisfuss warms his hands on a wood-burning stove on his property in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Fred Weisfuss walks on his property near remnants of a canoe in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

Fred Weisfuss walks on his property in Unincorporated Cook County near Tinley Park, IL on Thursday February 21, 2013. They are facing $20,000 in property tax payments on their home because it was listed as undeveloped as they lived there for about 40 years. They claim they don't have the money. | Matt Marton~Sun-Times Media

This photo of the Weisfusses' home, with a 2008 date stamp, was on file on the Cook County assessor's website. | Supplied photo

This photo of a structure on the Weisfusses' property, with a 2008 date stamp, was on file on the Cook County assessor's website. | Supplied photo