Saturday, 23 July 2011

US Foreclosure Numbers Show Increase

The number of homes in the US that received foreclosure filings rose last month which is the first increase for three months. According to RealtyTrac, notices of repossession, default or auction sale were sent to 222,740 homes in June which is a 4% increase on the previous month.

This rise may be due to the increase in the number of properties sold, as banks could be prompted to issue foreclosure notices. The numbers of foreclosures had slowed in previous months as the banks became worried about the high numbers of homes hitting the market and subsequently dragging down prices.

Some experts feel that delaying the number of foreclosures is just delaying the recovery in the housing market, and there are estimates that it could take as long as 2015 or 2016 for prices to begin recovering.

During the first six months of the year the number of homes receiving foreclosure notices had fallen by 25% when compared to the last six months of 2010, and by 29% compared to the first six months of last year.

Sales of previously owned property in the US declined to a six-month low in May, while the supply increased which is a clear indication that the housing market is still in the doldrums.

Prices of foreclosure and short sale properties are typically around 20% below market value, and these represented about a third of all transactions in May, which is slightly less than the 37% recorded in April. Nevada still has the dubious distinction of having the highest foreclosure rate in the US with an incredible one in 21 homes receiving foreclosure notices.

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