A trend that’s good for us to avoid
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Jack RyanStatistics from the national real estate market — specifically foreclosure proceedings on homes — offer direct evidence that Mississippi has avoided much of the turbulence in that sector of the economy.
RealtyTrac, a company that follows foreclosures across the country, reported last week that Mississippi continues to rank extremely low in the rate of such repossessions.
This is one time when being ranked low is a good deal, since these particular statistics are tracking a negative, economically damaging trend.
A review of foreclosure information from the past few years confirms that much of the speculative housing fever that has caused such pain across the country bypassed Mississippi.
RealtyTrac said lenders repossessed 727 Mississippi homes in the third quarter of the year, while another 705 property owners received notice of a pending foreclosure sale during the period.
If statistics from the first nine months play out for the rest of the year, about 4,000 homes in the state will have been in some part of the foreclosure process during the year.
There’s no way to minimize that damage. It is disruptive when anyone loses their property for failure to repay a loan. The number of foreclosures in the state clearly have increased in the last couple of years. The longer the state and national economies are unable to begin a noticeable recovery, the higher the possibility that foreclosures will increase.
Perhaps the better way to look at this is to note that Mississippi’s trends compare extremely favorably with those in other states.
Quite simply, Mississippi’s foreclosures have increased in the last four years, but they remain exceptionally low.
The state had 1,042 foreclosure proceedings in 2006; 1,997 in 2007; and 2,367 in 2008. The state’s highest number of homes in foreclosure was in 2009, when 5,401 residences were part of the process.
If 2009 was the peak, that is good news, since that 5,401 count is less than one-half of 1 percent of all the homes in the state.
In the states with the biggest real estate problems, foreclosures truly are unbelievable. Nevada had the highest rate in 2009, 10.1 percent of all homes in the state. California, Florida and Arizona also had large percentages, ranging from 4.75 percent to 6.12 percent.
Nationally, more than 2.8 million homes were in foreclosure in 2009 — 2.2 percent of all residences in the country. Mississippi’s foreclosure rate is less than one-fourth of that figure.
Mississippi’s foreclosure percentage obviously benefits from the state’s lower per-capita income. Less money means a smaller percentage of people own a home, and also that fewer people had money to speculate in the housing market.
Whatever the reasons, it has been Mississippi’s good fortune to avoid the immense number of foreclosures suffered by other states. This is one state trend that hopefully will continue.
Dear Editor,
The decision by the present school board not to renew the teaching and coaching contract of Mr. Archie Carlyle was a planned and calculated act of politics. This kind of thing has been happening for years.
They didn’t follow policies or procedures in this matter. The state’s report on the district asked the board to stop interfering in this kind of situation, but it seems they didn’t get the memo.
My mother always put her 11 children first in making decisions for their futures. It is clear this board did not do that.
Mr. Carlyle’s only crime was putting his students first. I feel like Jesus, when he told the people at the well, “He who is without sin cast the first stone.”
I and the 800 people who have signed the petition calling for Carlyle’s return can find no fault in his dedication to our community. We are being laughed at across the state, and on Facebook and Twitter.
Our community is losing faith in our ability to work in a productive and successful district. The Yazoo Herald’s sports editor called it a “travesty.” I ask the question, where are all those Christian folks, his co-workers, his pastor and his fellow church members?
Where are the athletes, past and present, and most of all where are the parents? He has mothered and fathered when you were unable to make it to a game or on the road, giving your children heart-to-heart talks of motivation and encouragement both in the halls of our schools and on the streets of this community. Now he deserves your support in this critical matter.
This affects us all, black and white, because the future of our community is at stake. I am asking everyone to show as much concern about this matter as they do during election time.
Mr. Clifton Jones, I sat on the school board when you and your wife in a 3 to 2 vote were denied what you rightfully deserved. When you first ran for alderman you were the only politician I ever spent an entire day with, walking the streets because I believed in you. When I ran for mayor as an independent, I endorsed McArthur Straughter in the primary. Many people thought I was crazy, but I was exercising my rights.
Mr. Aubry Brent Jr., I followed you from Vicksburg to Belzoni and saw people commit perjury to defeat you. When citizens support a candidate, they want something in return. As a citizen with the 800 petitioners, we are calling in our wager. Just get the record of the board of that decision, which is public record. Check the timeline of the action, and you will be amazed. Next month you will appoint or reappoint a board member, but before you do we deserve answers.
If you find me wrong I will come back and sit before you and the school board and give a public apology. Everyone deserves their day in court, and Mr. Carlyle certainly does.
What you do or don’t do will determine the caliber of teachers and coaches willing to come into our community and work with our children.
Johnny Staples
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