Housing advocates and organizations have been busy this month, releasing reports, launching new services, and creating resources. Here’s a peek at what you can find from HousingLink, HOME Line, Minnesota Home Ownership Center, and Minnesota Housing. (And don’t forget MHP’s next 2x4 Report, due for release soon.)
HOME Line's How to Be the Smartest Renter on Your Block
HOME Line’s new book was written to help renters through the process of finding, getting, and maintaining rental housing. Special attention is given to describing Minnesota's renters' legal rights and responsibilities in a clear and concise way. Click here to learn more and pre-order a copy.
2010 Annual Foreclosures in Minnesota Report Released
According to the newest report from HousingLink, Minnesota experienced 25,673 foreclosures in 2010, an increase of 11 percent from 2009 and mirroring the 2008 high of 26,251. In six of the seven preceding quarters, foreclosure numbers increased from the quarter before. In the fourth quarter 2010, however, foreclosures declined 27 percent from the third quarter.
hAlert: A New Service for Rent Seekers
hAlert, released in early February, is a new HousingLink service that will alert you by email or text message about available housing and waiting lists. More more info, see the FAQ Sheet.
Foreclosure Prevention Counseling: Working in Minnesota
Minnesota Home Ownership Center’s 2010 Foreclosure Counseling Program Report shows that over half of the12,000 homeowners who sought the foreclosure avoidance services of the Homeownership Advisors Network in 2010 were able to avoid the foreclosure of their home. The report also provides a glimpse into the demographic and financial circumstances of struggling homeowners. For example, 60% of homeowners seeking help faced either a reduction in income or a total loss of income since taking out their mortgage.
Minnesota Housing: Residential Foreclosures in Minnesota, Winter 2011
If you are wondering about foreclosure trends in your neck of the woods, check out Minnesota Housing's new foreclosure report. Among the key findings: the magnitude of the foreclosure crisis may be starting to level off, but the crisis is expected to continue. Meanwhile, prime loans continue to make up a larger share of delinquent loans. Data and maps available for the entire state by zipcode based on proprietary LPS Applied Analytics data.