Created: 11/16/2007 9:04:55 PM 
By Ryan Duffy First Coast News
JACKSONVILLE, FL -- Neighborhoods on the Northwest side of town may have the most foreclosed homes in the area. But, Joe Rogers will tell you if you're buying there you can get a great deal.
"If I would have been on the Southside and got the same house, I would have paid $100,000 more," says Rogers.
But with a good deal there can be a big downside.
The area where Joe bought in the 32209 zip code on the Northwest side leads Jacksonville with the most foreclosures.
And that can impact safety. "We are seeing it in the community if you track where the foreclosures are happening it's the same places that see large amounts of crime. It's a factor and a factor that certainly needs to be addressed," says Michael Figgins with Jacksonville Legal Aid.
Figgins sees the effects foreclosures can have on a neighborhood and the people left behind, primarily an increase in crime. First Coast News obtained a list of the zip codes that lead the city in foreclosures.
32209 was at the top, followed by 32208, 32218, 32206 and 32244 rounding out the top five.
Three out of five are on the Northside, with more than 2,000 foreclosure filings just in those areas through September of this year.
"I think if you track the rise in crime it matches the rise in foreclosures. The fact is foreclosures have gotten worse as crime has gotten worse. We've added more police on the street and crime is not down to the extent we'd like to see it," says Figgins.
Jacksonville ranks 33rd out of all cities in the country in foreclosures. Florida ranks third behind California and Ohio.
©2009 First Coast News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten, or redistributed.
