Area real-estate professionals are hoping Fannie Mae continues a limited pilot program aimed at facilitating short sales, especially as local foreclosure filings continue to hit record highs.

Since its January launch, the program has prevented at least a handful of homes in 11 Florida counties - including Manatee and Sarasota - from falling into foreclosure by making it easier to sell them for less than their outstanding mortgages.

The project initially was scheduled to last three months, but officials with a regional listing service said Wednesday they're hoping to persuade Fannie Mae to extend it.