Some south suburban ZIP codes rank high for foreclosures, but officials say they are part of a larger regional and national trend.
CNNMoney.com recently ranked Chicago Heights, Harvey, Calumet City, and Dolton ZIP codes among its top 500 ZIP codes for foreclosure filings nationwide. The problem is more widespread, said Ed Paesel, executive director of the South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association.
"Traditionally, (these communities) have had fairly high foreclosure rates," he said, but the increase in foreclosures is actually a lower percentage compared to other Chicago areas in the last two years. "It's not only a south suburban problem anymore."
Communities across the Chicago area have had "a large jump in foreclosures" in the last two years, said Beth Devers, housing director of Metropolitan Mayors Caucus.
"What is driving it is basically people getting into adjustable and subprime mortgages that have hard interest rates to keep up with," she said. "If someone loses a job or one part of a couple choose to stay home or get sick, any small disruption like that can harm someone's ability to keep making their payments."
The numbers don't tell the whole story, either, said Riverside Village President Zenovia Evans. Data from the Woodstock Institute ranks Riverdale second in the Chicago suburbs for foreclosures per 1,000 units, behind only University Park.
Calumet City's foreclosures were about 1 percent of its approximately 17,000 properties, Calumet City Communications Director Eric Schneider said.
"Your first impression is 'Oh, no,' but then you crunch the numbers," he said.
Calumet City, Dolton and Chicago Heights, have "very good starter homes," for first-time buyers, and inexperience can make these homeowners more susceptible to foreclosures, said Bert Herzog, Dolton director of economic development.
Higher rates of unemployment in the south suburbs also boost foreclosures. Predatory lending doesn't help, and more education is needed, Herzog said.
The best thing homeowners in trouble can do is work out some kind of arrangement with the lender, Devers said. Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development counseling agencies also are able to help, she said.
"A major contributor ... is people don't know the resources out there," she said.
Jeanna Bridges, Harris Bank regional president for Calumet City, Chicago Heights, Crete, Matteson, Homewood and Flossmoor, said customers should ask for help because the bank can offer flexible payments and advice to sell homes rather than lose them.
Total 2006 foreclosure filings according to CNNMoney.com
Dolton: 170
Calumet City: 185
Chicago Heights: 251
Harvey: 203
