Foreclosure Sales Increase In Tri-County Area

ST. PAUL  (AP) -- There were more home foreclosures in the tri-county area last year, compared to 2009.

The Minnesota Home Ownership Center released their statewide report on home foreclosures today (Thursday).

There were 147 more foreclosures in the tri-county area last year.  Sherburne County had the most -- 832 families lost their home in 2010, compared to 702 the year before.  Stearns county had 512 foreclosures last year, six more than in 2009.  And Benton county's numbers went up by 11 to 166.

The Center's Executive Director, Julie Gugin, says the number of families losing their homes in the state is four to five times higher than the level before the start of the housing crisis.