(WSB  Radio) The largest counties in Georgia are looking for federal dollars to help with the foreclosure crisis.

Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, Gwinnett and Cherokee Counties are hoping to get about $81 million to create a government "house-flipping" program. 

Under the proposal, the counties would buy problem foreclosures, fix the houses up, then either sell them or rent them, in many cases to the same people who have lost their homes in the foreclosure wave.

It's all part of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program, a federal plan that has given Georgia $153 million.  The counties hope to get the lion's share of those funds.

The counties can also use the money to create special financing to make the foreclosed properties more affordable to potential buyers.

DeKalb commissioners agreed this week to apply for and accept $18.5 million from the federal Housing and Urban Development Department.  It administers the program.

Local governments are supposed to apply by December 1, and funds will become available by February.