Northern El Paso County saw some of the biggest jumps in county
foreclosures last year, according the Public Trustees annual
report.
The highest density of foreclosures still remain in ZIP codes of
southern portions of the county, while parts of Gleneagle,
Briargate and Black Forest saw jumps in the percentage of
foreclosures compared to 2007. Much of Black Forest resides in the
80908 ZIP code and saw a 55 percent increase over the previous year
— 80921 and 80920 both saw a 43 percent increase. The largest jump
in the county from 2007-08 was 93 percent in 80925.
Public trustee Thomas Mowle said to the county commissioners
Feb. 3 that northern El Paso County still shows relatively low
density of foreclosures which may have led to the sharp
increases.
Compared to other counties in the state, El Paso has the
fourth-highest number of foreclosures but is increasing faster than
other counties.
“It seems to be leveling off or getting better in other pats of
the state and it seems to be getting worse here,” Mowle said. “I
don’t know whether we are lagging other counties or whether there
is some bigger problem that is not showing up yet.”
Industrial growth in other counties may have something to do
with the disparity, according to Mowle who pointed toward a new
windmill plant in Weld County and prison construction in Freemont
County as examples.
“At some point the housing market is going to pick up I assume;
we are not yet seeing it in my office. We are not seeing property
being paid off or sold to other people yet. This may change at any
time but it is certainly not a sign of health for the local housing
market,” Mowle said.
Foreclosure percentages by ZIP code as provided by the El Paso
County Public Trustee:
80133—3-3.9
80132—1-1.9
80921—1-1.9
80920—1-1.9
80908—2-2.9
By the numbers
Foreclosure percentages by area code as provided by the El Paso
County Public Trustee:
80133—3-3.9
80132—1-1.9
80921—1-1.9
80920—1-1.9
80908—2-2.9