More than 18,000 Miami Valley homeowners could be eligible for a free Independent Foreclosure Review, based on the number of foreclosure filings made in local courts in 2009 and 2010 in Clark, Greene, Miami, Montgomery, Preble and Warren counties.

Mortgage servicers regulated by the Federal Reserve Board and Comptroller of the Currency were required in 2011 to retain independent consultants to review foreclosures initiated, pending or completed during 2009 or 2010. The review is meant to determine if borrowers suffered financial harm due to errors, misrepresentations, or other deficiencies in the foreclosure process.

Eligible homeowners could get $500 to $125,000 if a review of their case shows mistakes or wrongdoing, according to new information from government regulators.

However, as Dayton Daily News reported July 19, few Ohioans have taken advantage of the review process so far. The deadline to request a review is Sept. 30, which has been twice extended already.

In a conference call Wednesday, Senator Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said it’s his understanding the deadline won’t be moved again. He urged homeowners who qualify to ask for a review.

Beth Deutscher, executive director of the HomeOwnership Center of Greater Dayton, joined the senator’s weekly conference call. She said the main eligibility points are straightforward—the consumer had to have had primary residence involved in a foreclosure action in 2009 and 2010 and the mortgage had to be with one of 14 servicers

“An example that we think will be very common for those who respond by submitting a request will probably center around that modification process,” Deutscher said. “Let’s say we had a homeowner who had a reduction in income and then subsequently became delinquent on their mortgage. They then asked their servicer for a loan modification. Then somewhere along the way the lender may have moved forward with the foreclosure process before or during that modification process was still in play.”

To request a review, go online to www.independentforeclosurereview.com or call (888) 952-9105.