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MIDDLETOWN — Butler County foreclosures may not be growing, but experts suggest they will not be decreasing anytime soon.

In April, 144 properties were sold in foreclosed property sheriff's auctions, said Lt. Mike Smith.

It's a slight dip from 156 property sales in March, but since weekly reports of foreclosures have remained steady at 40 to 50 per week, Susan Crank, of Innovative Real Estate Solutions, said she expects the high numbers to continue for a while.

"Despite the news (on foreclosures), I think a lot of people are in denial," she said. "They are embarrassed and they don't think it is really happening in a way."

She, along with other business leaders and organizations, have formed the Butler County Homeowner Preservation Group to spread the word about resources residents have available to help them keep their homes.

Members include area city leaders, the Better Business Bureau, Legal Aid, LifeSpan, Neighborhood Housing Services, Realtors and others.

The goal is to provide services to residents in every step of the process, whether it is receiving funds to help keep a home, finding legal representation to fight a foreclosure or getting a real estate agent to market the home before it can go to auction, Crank said.

Crank said the county is in much the same situation as the state. Ohio saw a smaller increase in foreclosures in April versus March, with only a 2 percent increase, or one filing for every 432 homes.

It's the county and state's proactive stance that have prevented the numbers from exploding each month, she said.

"Overall, I think in Ohio, (governments) are being proactive about it. They're trying to help."

Unfortunately, it's going to take time to see the effects, Crank added.

So far, 60 homes have been sent to sheriff's sale in May, Smith said.

Foreclosure help resources

LifeSpan

Hamilton: (513) 867-7545

Middletown: (513) 424-6888

Legal Aid offices

(513) 894-7669

Neighborhood Housing Services

Hamilton: (513) 737-9301

Middletown: (513) 420-9193

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