While Brainerd and East Chattanooga are two parts of Hamilton County hit hard by home foreclosures, Ooltewah, East Brainerd, Hixson, East Ridge and Soddy-Daisy are hurting as well, according to figures for the first eight months of the year.
“No area is insulated from this problem,” said Jason Farmer of Re/Max Renaissance Realtors in Chattanooga.
Foreclosure actions happen after homeowners default on their mortgages. And that’s a problem affecting people in many income brackets, said Blane Andrews of Chattanooga Neighborhood Enterprise.
CNE recently sponsored a community meeting about foreclosures at the Carver Recreation Center. Andrews said it doesn’t matter if someone is earning $30,000 annually or $80,000.
“People’s lifestyles are based on their income,” he said. “When you lose a job, you’ve got people having trouble making their mortgage payment.”