IRVINE, CA—There were 95,186 US properties with foreclosure filings in January, which is down 8% from December and 11% from a year ago, according to recent data from RealtyTrac.The research firm said that total number was the lowest since July 2006.

Lenders completed foreclosure (REO) on 29,275 US properties in January, down 26% from the previous month but still up 32% from a year ago – the 11th consecutive month with a year-over-year increase in REOs.

Lenders started the foreclosure process for the first time on 41,471 US properties in January, down 1% from the previous month and down 18% from a year ago – the seventh consecutive month with a year-over-year decrease in foreclosure starts. Foreclosure starts continue to run at pre-recession levels.

State level data from RealtyTrac includes:

· States with the highest foreclosure rates in January were New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland, Florida and Delaware.

· 22 states (and the District of Columbia) posted year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity in January, including Oklahoma (up 74%), Massachusetts (up 40%), New Jersey (up 39%), Alabama (up 35 percent), and Pennsylvania (up 17%).

· 34 states (and the District of Columbia) posted year-over-year increases in REOs in January, including New York (up 263%), Texas (up 198%), New Jersey (up 132%), Georgia (up 76%), and Maryland (up 72%).

12 states (and the District of Columbia) posted year-over-year increases in foreclosure starts in January, including Oklahoma (up 289%), Massachusetts (up 49%), New Jersey (up 18%), Pennsylvania (up 8 percent), and Indiana (up 7%).

Metro highlights include:

· Metro areas with the highest foreclosure rates in January were Atlantic City, NJ, Trenton, NJ, Fayetteville, NC, Tampa, and Las Vegas.

· 17 of the nation's 50 most-populous metro areas posted a year-over-year increase in foreclosure activity in January, including Oklahoma City (up 143%), Buffalo, NY (up 103%), Louisville, KY (up 89%), Birmingham, AL (up 47%), Pittsburgh, PA (up 31%), Richmond, VA (up 25%), Boston (up 24%), New York (up 20%), Philadelphia (up 18%), and Portland, OR (up 18%).

For more information and other reports click RealtyTrac.

State level data from RealtyTrac includes:

· States with the highest foreclosure rates in January were New Jersey, Nevada, Maryland, Florida and Delaware.

Metro highlights include:

· Metro areas with the highest foreclosure rates in January were Atlantic City, NJ, Trenton, NJ, Fayetteville, NC, Tampa, and Las Vegas.

For more information and other reports click RealtyTrac.

Instant Insights /

Foreclosure Totals Near 10-Year Low

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