By Mary Drier (Contact / Staff Bio)
May 31, 2008 - 12:00 a.m. EST

LANSING -- Because Michigan ranks as one of the states with the highest number of foreclosures, some homeowner protection measures are being taken, especially for those serving in the military.

Governor Jennifer Granholm has signed a bill protecting military service members from the threat of mortgage foreclosure. The bill prevents foreclosure on home purchases for six months after the end of an owner's military service.

Tuscola County is among the 83 counties in Michigan seeing a high number of foreclosures.

According to statistics from the Tuscola County Register of Deeds office, in 2004 there were 91 foreclosures, and in 2007 there were 265. So far this year, from January through May, there have been 138 homes foreclosed on.

“Military service members are protecting our families every day, the least we can do is protect their dream of home ownership,” Granholm said in a press release. “When military service members return to their families and their communities here in Michigan, the last thing they should have to worry about is losing their home.”

Public Act 138 amends the Revised Judicature Act by allowing a court to issue a stay on mortgage foreclosure proceedings for six months after the end of the individual's military service, explains the release.

Under the new law, mortgage servicers who attempt to sell or foreclose real estate that has received a stay from the court could be subject to a $2,000 civil fine.

Tuscola County Veterans Affairs Administrator Ron Amend says he hasn’t had any foreclosures for new veterans come into his office so far.

“We’ve had requests for housing assistance on and off (for veterans) but no foreclosures for new veterans have come in the six months that I’ve been here,” said Amend.

Register of Deeds Ginny McLaren said her office doesn’t note if a foreclosed home belongs to a veteran or not.

In checking with various agencies, there doesn’t seem to be a way of tracking veterans here who may have lost their homes through foreclosure.

“That would be an interesting statistic to know. I know we have a lot more foreclosures in the county than there used to be, but I personally haven’t heard that any of them were veterans,” said county Commission Chair Jerry Peterson of Vassar. “Foreclosure is a sad process to start with, but man, when it comes to veterans... that’s really sad!”

In 2007, Vassar Township had the most foreclosures of any township in the county with 34.

“To me that’s surprising that we’re the highest. We’re not the highest population township like some of the others, plus we are mostly agricultural,” said Peterson.

McLaren’s 2007 statistics show 59 percent of the county’s foreclosures came from only seven out of the county’s 23 townships.

Millington and Indianfields townships each had 26 foreclosures last year, and Fremont Township was next with 25.

So far this year, Indianfields Township’s 18 foreclosures is leading with Vassar Township coming in second with 16 foreclosures, followed by Millington Township with 13.

The balance of the mortgages foreclosed on from January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007 was approximately $25,459,511. In the first five months of this year, that figure is already at $11,694,668.

PA - 138 is the second law signed by Granholm in the last few months to protect veterans’ rights.

Last month, a bill guaranteed citizens who serve on active duty in the armed forces or National Guard the opportunity to get their jobs back upon their return from duty.

Mary Drier is a staff writer for the Tuscola County Advertiser. She can be reached at drier@tcadvertiser.com.