Over 2,000 Erie County Homes in Financial Crisis, Foreclosure

It is no surprise that there were a lot of financial burdens on some Western New Yorkers throughout 2020 and 2021 as the COVID pandemic swept all over the world. New York State stepped in for assistance that went as far as ending in January 2022.

Unfortunately, there are still tons of problems with people paying their mortgages. Lancaster, Hamburg, Tonawanda, and Cheektowaga are some of the zip codes with the highest delinquent-payment rates. Erie County released the number of delinquent homes per zip code in the area. I listed out the top few to make it easier to see below.

In fact, nearly 3,000 homes in Erie County are in the foreclosure process to some degree. To be clear, that might even mean, that the homeowner could have gotten a notification that they are late a minimum of 60 days at the very least. So, some cases are more severe than others. Officials are saying this is the worst since the housing financial crisis in 2008.

According to the New York State Department of Financial Services, 2,930 homeowners, have received notices of non-payment on their mortgages.

Unfortunately, the overwhelming numbers in this report confirm another foreclosure crisis of greater magnitude is on the horizon for many homeowners across Erie County,” said Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns. “Although the COVID-19 pandemic has further complicated the battle against zombie properties and the fight to preserve homeownership, we do have the tools to help them stay in their home", according to Buffalo Rising.

Cheektowaga (14225) 185

Buffalo - Kensington area (14215) 165

Tonawanda (14150) 162

Hamburg (14075) 133

Williamsville (14221) 112

Lancaster (14086) 111

South Buffalo (14220) 107

South Cheektowaga (14227) 94

North Tonawanda - Colvin (14223) 90

Depew (14043) 82

North Tonawanda (14217) 82