WASHINGTON, DC-New data compiled by housing advocacy groups showthat residential delinquencies, while varied across the nation’smetro areas, are still not noticeably abating. The report, draftedby Foreclosure-Response.org--a group formed by Local InitiativesSupport Corp., the Urban Institute and the Center for HousingPolicy--found that Florida’s cities have some of the highestserious delinquency rates in the country and rates are still risingrapidly.

Indeed, nine out of the top 10 and 15 out of the top 25 metroareas with the highest serious delinquency rates in June 2010 werein Florida. Of the 25 metro areas with the biggest growth inserious delinquency rates from June 2009 to June 2010, 11 were inFlorida. In the Miami metro area--the region with the highestserious delinquency rate--25.6% of mortgages were seriouslydelinquent in June 2010, up 4.3 percentage points from June2009.

The situation is not so dire in other areas, notes Maya Brennan,a senior research associate at the Center for Housing Policy. “Weare seeing some signs of hope in parts of California, wheredelinquency rates are still quite high but haven’t increased thatmuch,” she tells GlobeSt.com.