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80,000 Wayne County Property Owners Subject To Foreclosure, About 70,000 In Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) - A record number of properties are being foreclosed on by the Wayne County treasurer's office this year.

The county is in the process of sending roughly 80,000 property owners notice that their property is subject to foreclosure due to delinquent back taxes.

Wayne County Chief Deputy Treasurer David Szymanski says there's help available through a local program, for those who qualify, but they need to act fast.

"We fear that sometime next year this program might come to an end - it might be closed down and so another reason we want to foreclose on as many properties as possible it that gets people serious about addressing their situation," said Szymanski. "And right now have the ability to funnel those people under the appropriate circumstances to step forward."

Szymanski tells WWJ's Stephanie Davis that historically the sooner they begin the foreclosure process the better the outcome for the property owner.

"The earlier we have contact with the delinquent tax payer the more likely we are to put together a plan to help them avoid foreclosure," he said.

Szymanski says they do have a program available that will assist qualified homeowners pay back taxes-- but the program is not expected to last very long.

"This year treasurer Wojtowicz in conjunction with Mayor Duggan is making a concerted effort to foreclose on any properties that are eligible for foreclosure and that is approximately 80,000 properties here in Wayne County about 70,000 of those properties would be in the city of Detroit," said Szymanski.

For more information contact the Wayne County Treasurer's Office.

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