Thursday, October 16, 2014

RealtyTrac Reports U.S. Foreclosure Activity Edges Up in Third Quarter


Daren Blomquist
 IRVINE, CA – Oct. 16, 2014 — RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the nation’s leading source for comprehensive housing data, today released its U.S. Foreclosure Market Report™ for September and the third quarter of 2014, which shows foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions — were reported on 317,171 U.S. properties in the third quarter, down 16 percent from a year ago but up 0.42 percent from the previous quarter — the first quarterly increase since the third quarter of 2011.

“September foreclosure activity was back to pre-housing bubble levels nationwide, in large part thanks to a continued slide in bank repossessions,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president at RealtyTrac.

“However, a recent rise in scheduled foreclosure auctions in many markets across the country shows lenders are continuing to clean house of lingering delinquent loans. This rise in scheduled auctions foreshadows a corresponding rise in bank repossessions and auction sales to third party buyers in the coming months.”

Michael Mahon
States with the five highest foreclosure rates in the third quarter were Florida, Maryland, New Jersey, Nevada, and Illinois.

Metropolitan statistical areas with the five highest foreclosure rates in the third quarter were Orlando, Atlantic City, N.J., Macon, Ga., Ocala, Fla., and Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Fla.

“While the Ohio markets have noticed a decline in the overall number of available foreclosures on the market, we have equally noticed an increase in activity of lender servicers acquiring properties at sheriff sales and deed-in-lieu workouts,” said Michael Mahon, executive vice president/broker of record at HER Realtors, covering the Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio markets.

  “As short sales have become less popular due to current income tax ramifications of forgiven debt, many consumers are choosing full foreclosure over alternatives to attempt to mitigate their circumstances.”

Frank Duran
“The short sale market has definitely minimized from what we experienced a couple of years ago, however, we are still seeing a steady flow of homeowners in need of avoiding foreclosure,” said Frank Duran of RE/MAX Alliance, covering the Denver, Colo., market. 

“A couple of years ago, out of every 20 clients I was serving, 17 to 18 of those clients were people I was helping through a short sale, and over the last year this ratio has flip-flopped. I am now serving two to three clients in a short sale for every 20 clients I serve.”

For a complete copy of the company’s news release, please contact:



Jennifer von Pohlmann
PR Manager
Office: 949.502.8300 ext 139

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