Detroit Free Press: (Wayne County Sheriff) Evans orders a stop to sheriff's sale of homes

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Evans orders a stop to sheriff's sale of homes
Legality of decision debated, defended

BY BEN SCHMITT, GRETA GUEST and ERIC D. LAWRENCE • FREE PRESS STAFF WRITERS • February 3, 2009


Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans' announcement Monday that he would indefinitely halt mortgage foreclosure sales may buy some time for homeowners in financial trouble, but experts question its legality and say it can't prevent lenders from taking back homes from owners.

Tricia Raymond, a foreclosure expert and buyer's agent in Troy, said she doubted the effectiveness of Evans' proposal given the high unemployment rate in Michigan.

"It's one thing to work something out with someone, but if they don't have a job there's not anything to work out," she said. "It's not going to save everyone."

Sheriffs in Oakland and Macomb counties said that while they appreciate Evans' position, their departments would not change how they manage foreclosures without new guidelines from the state.

Gov. Jennifer Granholm's office has previously rejected a request from Evans that she announce a moratorium on foreclosures, telling the Free Press the governor did not have the legal authority to do so.

The governor is expected in her State of the State address today to renew her call for state lawmakers to take action, spokeswoman Liz Boyd said Monday. ........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009902030329