Sheriff Sales in Ohio, 2008

Seventy-five county sheriff departments that responded to our biennial survey reported putting 68,974 foreclosed properties up for sale last year. The number of such properties grew substantially again in 2007. In the 72 counties that provided data to Policy Matters Ohio for each of the last two years, the number of properties put up for sale increased 18.4 percent from a year earlier, to 68,260. That reflected a jump of 50.6 percent from 2005. While it is difficult to put a precise number on how many Ohio families lose their homes to foreclosure each year, Policy Matters Ohio uses data from the survey to provide another estimate. The 75 sheriff departments responding to the survey ??” all but 13 of Ohio’s counties — represent 92 percent of the state’s population. The continued growth in sheriff sales is just one more piece of evidence that foreclosures are damaging Ohio communities, and that policy reform is needed to stabilize our neighborhoods.

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