Oakland County, Michigan, November 20, 2008 -- Oakland County's Board of Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to urge state lawmakers to pass legislation that will help families save their homes from foreclosure.

Senate Bill 1390 would restore the ability of county registers to calculate the amount of money needed for families to redeem a foreclosed home and provide that calculation to homeowners.

Most homeowners who lose their homes to foreclosure have six months - even after the home has been sold at sheriff's sale - to redeem their home. Unfortunately, some owners able to scrape up enough money to redeem their homes during that period are having difficulty obtaining the amount owed to the investor who purchased the home.

The bipartisan Board of Commissioners resolution supporting passage of Senate Bill 1390, approved with a 23-0 vote, was introduced by Commissioners Tom Middleton (R-Clarkston), Sue Ann Douglas (R-Rochester) and Vincent Gregory (D-Southfield.) Copies will go to state lawmakers, the Michigan Association of Counties and the governor.

Ruth Johnson, the Oakland County Clerk and Register of Deeds, has been fighting for the change in law, working with Sen. Nancy Cassis (R-Novi) who introduced the bill, as well as  her fellow county register, Carmella Sabaugh, of Macomb County.

County registers all over the state used to provide redemption amounts until the law was changed in March 2005. The change had unforeseen consequences - giving the responsibility of calculating the redemption amount to the investor who purchased the home - people with a financial stake in the outcome.

The Oakland County Register of Deeds Office has had some complaints from original homeowners who say it is nearly impossible to find out the amount needed to save their homes. Phones are disconnected. Telephone calls reportedly aren't returned.

 "The Oakland County Board of Commissioners took a strong position in support of families in crisis," Johnson said. "Families should have every opportunity to save their homes - it's just common decency. We are not asking for a bailout or tax increase, just the ability to calculate a simple number that will help families save their homes."

Commissioner Gregory agreed.

"I represent the south end of the county and we are seeing a lot of foreclosures," said Gregory. "We have to do everything we can do to help people who are already hurting."

Jeff Potter, (R-South Lyon) said investors who refuse to supply redemption amounts are reprehensible. "What kind of viper or bottom feeder would (do this?) it sickens me."

Some investors and other lending institutions are charging those homeowners as much as $200 to provide the amount, which takes just minutes to calculate.  Johnson said she believes she can provide the service for less than $50 while covering staff time and expenses.

It is important, Johnson said, that the law include immunity for the county registers as well as a grace period to allow any discrepancies to be remedied without financial penalty to both the investor and the homeowner. The bill does not mandate that all county registers provide redemption amounts, just allows those who want to provide the service to do so.

Oakland County is expecting as many as 10,000 foreclosures this year alone.