SC court halts thousands of home foreclosure sales

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina’s highest court on Tuesday temporarily stopped thousands of pending foreclosure sales in the state to give homeowners more time to take advantage of a new federal program to help them refinance mortgages.

The injunction — which mortgage experts said appeared to be the nation’s first court-ordered stop for an entire state — prevents judges in South Carolina from finalizing foreclosure sales on properties guaranteed by Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae or any other mortgage company that has signed on to a federal assistance program. Read more