The number of default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions declined during April, according to ATTOM Data Solutions’ latest U.S. Foreclosure Market Report.
ATTOM found foreclosure filings on 55,646 U.S. properties in April, down 5 percent compared with the previous month and down 13 percent from a year ago.
“While overall foreclosure activity is down nationwide, there are still parts of the country that we need to keep a close eye on,” ATTOM Chief Product Officer Todd Teta said in a release. “For instance, Florida is seeing a steady annual increase in total foreclosure activity for the 8th consecutive month, which is being sustained by a constant annual double-digit increase in foreclosure starts.”
According to the report, states posting annual decreases in foreclosure starts in April included New York (down 43 percent); Nevada (down 36 percent); Colorado (down 34 percent); Maryland (down 31 percent); and Michigan (down 25 percent).
ATTOM said 17 states had an annual increase in foreclosure starts in April including Washington (up 38 percent); Florida (up 34 percent); Oregon (up 22 percent); Louisiana (up 12 percent); and Georgia (up 11 percent).
Several metropolitan areas has annual increases in foreclosure activity in April, including Orlando, Fla. (up 90 percent); Miami (up 45 percent); Columbus, Ohio (up 35 percent); Portland, Ore. (up 31 percent); and El Paso, Texas (up 22 percent).
The report identified the states with the highest foreclosure rates as New Jersey (one in every 980 housing units); Maryland (one in every 1,218 housing units); Delaware (one in every 1,249 housing units); Illinois (one in every 1,371 housing units); and Florida (one in every 1,415 housing units).