Seminar to provide tips on foreclosure

Regina Preetorius wants residents of Columbia County to learn more about the intricacies of foreclosures.

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Preetorius, with the assistance of Omega Holding Group LLC, is holding a meeting at the Columbia County Library at 10 a.m. Saturday to provide information to those concerned about foreclosures.

"I'm not trying to promote people getting out of paying their mortgages," she said. "What I'm trying to promote here is to let them know their rights. The point in this is to give them more leverage with the bank."

An Evans resident, Preetorius says she has been involved in real estate for many years and said she wants to help people challenge some banks to ensure they have possession of a home's original note that was signed at closing before foreclosing on the property.

"It's also teaching them how to deal with the system," she said. "It's going to teach them how to go in and do a workout plan."

The meeting is aimed at people who are behind with their house payments, Preetorius said.

"We're going to educate them on this note situation," she said.

She said she wants to force banks to work with homeowners instead of kicking them out through foreclosures.

Preetorius wants to hold the meeting once a month at the library, if possible, and wrote in an e-mail that she is putting together community meetings throughout Georgia on the topic.

"I want to take this national," she said. "I want people to know what's going on."

Preetorius also is in the process of helping homeowners with the National Legacy Foundation, which is designed to educate occupants on the issues surrounding foreclosures and how to help them get back on their feet, she said.