Thursday, March 11, 2010

Foreclosure rates up by smallest amount in 4 years

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Foreclosure-rates-up-by-apf-1830270269.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=2&asset=&ccode=


The foreclosure crisis isn't over, but the pace of growth may finally be slowing down.

RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday that the number of U.S. households facing foreclosure in February grew 6 percent from the year-ago level, the smallest annual increase in four years.

More than 308,000 households, or one in every 418 homes, received a foreclosure-related notice, the Irvine, Calif.-based foreclosure listings company reported. That was down more than 2 percent from January

Still, fears remain about the hundreds of thousands of homeowners who are still being evaluated for help under loan modification programs. Many analysts say most of those borrowers will eventually lose their homes, sparking a new round of foreclosures later this year.

It's premature to declare victory just yet," said Rick Sharga, a RealtyTrac senior vice president for RealtyTrac. He did, however, allow that, "If this is the beginning of a slowdown in growth rates, that would be a good thing."
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Banks repossessed nearly 79,000 homes last month, down 10 percent from January but still up 6 percent from February 2009.