2009 ends with 3,322 foreclosure filings

County commissioners have already identified the housing crisis as one of their key focus points heading into 2010.

And the latest numbers from the clerk of the court's office show that it's not getting any better - at least on the foreclosure front.

Hernando County finished the year with 3,322 foreclosure filings, 66 more than the previous year.

That's an average of 277 a month.

Meanwhile, on the new-home front, updated statistics from the building department show the county issued only three single-family home permits in October and November respectively.

However, the county ended the month in better shape - 15 permits were issued in December - four more than in December 2008.

Clerk of the Court Karen Nicolai said 2009 posted the highest number of foreclosures she's seen in her 30-plus years with Hernando County.

And she said the volume load is causing an "extreme lot of work" in her office.

The Florida Supreme Court last month issued an administrative order that allows homeowners facing foreclosures to meet with a third party negotiator in hopes of reaching agreement.

Under the program, all foreclosure cases in the state courts that involve primary residential homestead property will be referred by the chief judges of Florida's 20 judicial circuits to mediation, unless the plaintiff and borrower reach agreement otherwise.

But Nicolai believes the order is "too little, too late."

"My thought is that it will slow up the process," Nicolai said.

New home construction

Robert Eaton, chairman of the Hernando Builders Association's government affairs committee, attributes the positive December new home statistics to county commissioners' recent decision to cut impact fees almost in half for one year to jumpstart housing construction.

Effective last Dec. 1, impact fees dropped from the current $9,200 to $4,848.

"I'm getting a couple sales because of the impact fee rollback, so I know it's making a difference for folks," said Eaton, who is also president and owner of Artistic Homes.

Eaton said he expects permits to pick up even more once the spring selling season begins.

He realizes the market has a long way yet to go before coming back. For example, there were 93 and 31 single-family home permits issued in December 2006 and 2007 respectively.

"You've got to start somewhere, though," Eaton said.

County Commissioner David Russell said the impact fee reduction, combined with lower costs for labor and construction materials, has created a favorable scenario for homeowners thinking of purchasing a new home.

There are people who want new housing (and) they don't want a used home," Russell said. "We're going to accommodate those wants.

"Every house that's built puts food on a lot people's tables and that's a good thing."