Preforeclosure Notices Drop 21% in First Quarter

The beginning of the end of the foreclosure crisis in Minnesota?

Source: revjavadude

The Minnesota Homeownership Center has released its most recent report on the aggregate number of Preforeclosure Notices received by foreclosure counselors in the Homeownership Advisors Network and the numbers signal a possible light at the end of the tunnel for the foreclosure crisis that has affected the housing industry and Minnesota families for more than four years.

In the first quarter of 2011, members of the Homeownership Advisors Network received 14,595 preforeclosure notices, a drop of 21% from the same time period a year ago, and a 15% drop in the number of notices received last quarter (Q4, 2010).

This number reflects the lowest number received by counseling agencies since we started compiling the data in the first quarter of 2009:

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The drop in notices received by counseling organizations in the Twin Cities metro was equally dramatic. 8,836 notices were received, a 20% decrease over the same time period in 2010, and, like what we saw statewide, a 15% drop in the number of notices received last quarter:

It’s certainly too early to celebrate, as the number still means that almost 15,000 Minnesota families are still dangerously close to losing their homes to foreclosure and thousands of others are still struggling with their monthly mortgage payment. In addition, the most recent (Q1) Sheriff Sale numbers from HousingLink while down, still reflect numbers that are 400% higher than pre-crisis numbers. But it might be time to be cautiously optimistic that the very worst of the crisis is over. Remember, the housing crisis was a overwhelming painful for Minnesota and families involved and recovery will take MANY years.


If you or someone you know is struggling with their mortgage payment, new programs, resources and assistance are becoming available all the time. DON’T GIVE UP… contact a foreclosure counselor that is a member of the Homeownership Advisors Network TODAY to see if there’s help available for YOU to avoid foreclosure. Even if you’re not yet behind, now is the time to call. To find your local foreclosure counselor, click here.

For additional information about the statutory requirement for pre-foreclosure notices, visit the Office of Revisor of Statutes website here.