DaytonDailyNews.com

COLUMBUS — In another sign of the continuing economic downturn, foreclosures in Ohio grew in 2007, with Montgomery County helping to lead the way.

Policy Matters Ohio, a Cleveland-based research group, reported on Tuesday, Nov. 11, that in the 75 counties that responded to its biennial survey, 68,974 properties ended up in a sheriff's sale in 2007.

In the 72 counties that provided data for each of the past two years, the number of properties put up for sale jumped 18.4 percent from the previous year, to 68,260.

The 75 counties — out of the state's 88 — in the survey represented 92 percent of Ohio's population, the report said.

Rural Hardin County had the most sales per capita, followed by Cuyahoga County and Montgomery County.

Montgomery County led the state in this category in 2005, with 7.9 sales per 1,000 residents. An indication of the worsening problem is that the county no longer leads the state even though it posted a higher rate. Harden had 12.1 sales per 1,000 residents, Cuyahoga 10.8 and Montgomery 9.5.

In Hardin County, representatives reported seeing many properties put up for sale, withdrawn and then put up again, possibly explaining the high rate, the report said.

Sheriff's offices across the state reported predatory lending as the top factor contributing to foreclosures, as in past surveys, the report said.

Twenty of the 36 responding departments ranked it the No. 1 cause.

Foreclosure filings are only the first step in the process and don't always result in actual foreclosures, the study said. The sheriff's sales, however, come at the end of the process, offering insight into how many families actually lose their homes, the study said.

Per-capita sheriff's sales rates and rank for Dayton-area counties

Butler – 6.9, 12

Clark – not available

Darke – not available

Greene – 3.9, 49

Miami – 5.5, 24

Montgomery – 9.5, 3

Preble – 7.0, 9

Warren – 5.0, 31

* Rate is based on sheriff's sales per 1,000 residents

How have home foreclosures affected you?
I've lost my home
Family or friends have lost their homes
Home value has been hurt
I am/have been at risk
Not affected at all
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