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RALEIGH — Officials said more than 5,000 foreclosures have been prevented thanks to the Prevention Help Line
 
Last year there were more than 63,000 foreclosures in North Carolina, and the state's foreclosure help line was busier than ever. The help line has been in place since 2008 and aims to hook up struggling homeowners with mortgage counselors.

The phone line is run by the North Carolina Commissioner of Banks. Lekesha Shaw is a home counselors with the Raleigh Area Development Authority, and is one of counselors people are connected to through the helpline.

 "We see people that are current. We see people that are a year delinquent. We see people that are two months delinquent," said Shaw.

 According to the Office of the Commissioner of Banks, from August 2009 to August 2010 foreclosures were up 17-percent in North Carolina.

"We have enough in the pipeline right now of homes that are underwater and people that are behind on their mortgage that it's probably going to take us about three years to get out of the toxic inventory that's flooding our marketplace right now," said Realtor Linda Craft.

The Office of the Commissioner of Banks says so far more than 14,000 people have met with prevention program counselors. They said that has stopped about 5,000 homeowners from losing their homes. Officials with that office said because of new legislation, starting in November, the project will be able to expand beyond just helping those with sub-prime loans.

The State Home Foreclosure Prevention Project Hotline is 1-866-234-4857.