Foreclosure activity throughout the U.S. decreased in January on a year-over-year basis, according to ATTOM Data Solutions.
However, foreclosure activity in January 2018 was up from December 2017, ATTOM found. A total of 28,277 U.S. properties started the foreclosure process in January, up 9 percent from the previous month, but down 12 percent from a year ago.
According to ATTOM, 12 states and the District of Columbia had year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity in January, including New Jersey (up 8 percent); Ohio (up 6 percent); Indiana (up 20 percent); Arizona (up 1 percent) and D.C. (up 49 percent). The states with the highest foreclosure rates were New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Illinois and Ohio.
ATTOM said 17 states had year-over-year increases in foreclosure starts, including New Jersey (up 10 percent); Ohio (up 8 percent); Pennsylvania (up 12 percent); Indiana (up 22.2 percent); and South Carolina (up 20 percent).
During January, lenders repossessed through foreclosure (REO) 26,597 U.S. properties, up 6 percent from December but down 17 percent from a year ago. ATTOM found 11 states had year-over-year increases in REOs in January, including New Jersey (up 19 percent); Ohio (up 34 percent); Georgia (up 11 percent); and Arizona (up 9 percent).