The future of Polk foreclosures

LAKELAND - This may be just your chance to buy the home you have always dreamed about. HUD is sending Tampa Bay tens of millions of dollars to find foreclosed homes, bring them up to speed, then sell them to moderate income families with little closing costs.

The Neighborhood Stabilization Program is sending more than $16 million to Polk County. The first step is to find and buy the foreclosed homes. There are plenty of them.

Experts predict 12,000 Polk County families will lose their homes this year. Polk's Neighborhood Stabilization Program plans to purchase and re-do several hundred former foreclosures in the next few years. Every one will have major improvements made in it.

"They're going to have energy smart appliances inside, and upgraded attic insulation," said Greg Alpers, the man in charge of Polk County's Housing Division. Some houses may need a new roof or plumbing.

When they're ready, the homes will be sold to working class families with little money down.

In Polk County, for more information, go to www.polkhousing.com. Outside Polk, go to www.HUD.org.Nwe