Campaign aims to prevent foreclosures in Durham
Durham home foreclosures are up 4.6 percent over last year, so a campaign is underway to educate homeowners about options before foreclosure, including counseling.
Posted — UpdatedSo far this year, home foreclosures are up 36 percent in Chatham County, up 15 percent in Johnston County, up more than 12 percent in Orange County and up 11 percent in Wake County.
Durham's foreclosure increase is only 4.6 percent over last year, however, and there is even more help on the way for homeowners in financial trouble in the Bull City.
"It wasn't just buying a house for us. This is our foundation,” Mary Garrett said of her Durham home.
For her husband, Tony Garrett, the home gives him a sense of security.
"It is stability for my family,” he said.
However, that stability didn't last long.
“We never understood that the rate was going to just climb and climb and climb,” Tony Garrett said.
Their mortgage started at about $670 a month, but rose to $980.
"I think sometimes it's embarrassment that I couldn't meet the mark. I couldn't live up to my obligations,” Tony Garrett said.
The Garrett family sought help from counseling adviser Gleyndola Beasley.
"At least 30 to 40 percent of the persons who are in foreclosures could have avoided foreclosures,” said Beasley, who is with the Durham Regional Financial Center.
Durham leaders want to see more people like the Garrett family get the help they need. A campaign is under way to educate people about options before foreclosure, including counseling.
"I think that we can be a major referral mechanism into this program,” Reckhow said.
It will not only help save the Durham tax base, but will help people, like the Garrett family, keep their homes. With the help of a counseling adviser, they now have a mortgage interest rate of 5.5 percent.
“I'm just thankful. I really am. I'm just thankful,” Tony Garrett said.
Durham will host a foreclosure workshop July 19 at North Carolina Central University educational building. It runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with registration at 10 a.m. More information is available from the city at 560-4570.
Financial counselors and bank lenders will be there to help homeowners with mortgage problems.
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