Making the best of foreclosure

NEWAYGO COUNTY, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – More Michigan families continue losing their homes as the latest numbers show that Michigan's foreclosure crisis is not over yet.

Michigan ranks seventh in the nation for foreclosure filings, in June there were more than 13,000 such filings in the state. That's one for every 74 homes.

Now, one Muskegon man has turned the crisis into an opportunity.

The ever growing number of foreclosed homes isn't all bad news, in fact it's become big business for one Muskegon man.

Doug Andrews is what you might call resourceful. Three years ago the father of four was in need of a job, and he knew a lot of homes had been foreclosed on, so he put two and two together and started cleaning them out.

Andrews' business is called Neighborhood Resources, and he does all the dirty work of getting foreclosed homes ready for resale.

"Its become busier and busier as the economy has just been dropping," said Andrews.

Andrews says it has also become more emotional, and that the things he finds inside the homes he cleans makes him ever more grateful for what he has.

"Your heart sinks when you go to this house and you see all these people's possessions and you realize they just up and left because they had to," said Andrews.

Andrews says he cleans out several homes a week. It's tough work, but it brings in a steady paycheck.

"It's great to know you're supporting your family, and it's just, I thank God everyday I can get up and go to work, I know there's so many people out there that can't right now," said Andrews.

More people out of work means more people doing what Andrews is doing, but he doesn't expect that his business will take a hit.

Andrews says he anticipates his business will just keep on growing.