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Foreclosure Numbers Down
in Medina County
For Immediate Release
Date: February 26, 2011
Contact: Nancy P. Girton, 330.725.9756
Numbers recently released
by the Ohio Supreme Court indicate initial foreclosure filings in
Medina County for 2010 were down five percent from their 2009
highs. Medina County Auditor Mike Kovack expressed relief that a
light at the end of the tunnel may be in sight.
"Economically this
has been a horrific time," Kovack said. "For those who
have been less touched by the recession, it is hard to fathom the
desperation that has touched so many people out there."
Despite the reduction in
initial filings last year, actual foreclosures in Medina County
set a new high last year. 467 houses were foreclosed on in 2010.
Initial numbers for 2011 don't indicate actual foreclosures
abating anytime soon. "There has been a large backlog of
cases," Kovack indicated. "Many of them are processing
through now".
Historically, Medina
County has seen many fewer of its foreclosure cases actually go
to sale. Kovack attributes that to an aggressive program of
counseling for homeowners initiated by his office and a statewide
non-profit, Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People (ESOP).
Every homeowner in the county subject to a foreclosure filing is
contacted by the auditor's office and offered counseling and
mediation services in an effort to help individuals stay in their
homes. This has led to Medina County being on the low end of
actual foreclosures as a percentage of overall foreclosure
filings throughout the state.
Kovack believes the worst
has passed. The number of home sales and prices stayed steady in
Medina County from 2009 through 2010 according to Board of
Realtor statistics. Additionally, the unemployment rate in the
county has slowly but steadily declined throughout the past year.
Medina County had the 7th lowest unemployment rate in the state
at the end of the year.
"As the economy
slowly recovers, people will still face difficulties,"
Kovack said. "For those having trouble making their mortgage
payments we encourage them to contact us as soon as possible.
There is help available, but it is often a long process."
Counselors at the auditor's office can be reached via e-mail at auditor@medinacountyauditor.org or by calling 330-764-9137,
330-225-7100, ext. 9137 or 330-336-6657, ext. 9137.
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