Eaton County Treasurer, Bob Robinson, Forecloses Forty Properties as Foreclosure Prevention Efforts Continue

Charlotte, MI, June 30, 2016 --(PR.com)-- Eaton County Treasurer, Bob Robinson reported that forty Eaton County properties were tax foreclosed by the county treasurer’s office on April 1. Property owners with taxes that are delinquent more than two years face foreclosure and the property is later sold at public auction. Sale of this year’s foreclosures will be held at the Ingham County Governmental Complex in the commissioner’s chambers on Thursday, September 8 at 5:30 p.m.

“While foreclosure is a tragedy, and is to be avoided whenever possible, the real property tax auctions will be held inside the county this year,” said Eaton County Treasurer, Bob Robinson. “It’s good that these properties will now be available to local residents, businesses, and farmers.”

Robinson guided bi-partisan state law through the legislature in 2014 that enabled the county treasurer’s office to foreclose local tax delinquent properties beginning in 2016 rather than giving them to the state. Foreclosures for 2016 were nine properties less than last year.

“That is a testament to the hard work that staff in the treasurer’s office has conducted over the last several months helping folks avoid foreclosure and get caught up on their tax payments,” said Bob.

As part of a countywide strategy to help homeowners at risk of losing their homes, The Eaton County Treasurer’s office, in conjunction with two nonprofit organizations, the Housing Rights Center of Mid-Michigan (Delta Township) and Housing Services of Eaton County (Charlotte), is collaborating to raise awareness about tax foreclosure. This unique collaboration makes free, MSHDA-certified counseling available for homeowners who are in danger of losing their homes. Qualified homeowners are given information on a variety of assistance programs and are informed about strategies to prevent losing their homes. The result of the federal government’s settlement against mortgage lenders, the program in the past has included assistance funding from the Hardest Hit program to help qualified homeowners get current on back taxes. Federal rescue funds for the program, however, were exhausted in December of 2015.

“Still we’ve pulled in more than $223,573.40 in Hardest Hit funds into Eaton County to help more than 60 local families save their homes. This funding is not a bailout, it must be forgiven by the homeowner over a five-year period,” added Bob.

A list of foreclosed properties will be posted to the treasurer's web site in June.