ATTOM: November Foreclosure Filings Down 18%

ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., said 86,561 U.S. properties were in foreclosure activity in November, down 18 percent from October and down 17 percent from a year ago.

The total marked the 14th consecutive monthly decrease; the November decrease was the largest since November 2010.

Thirty-two states posted year-over-year decreases in overall foreclosure activity, including Florida (down 33 percent), Michigan (down 24 percent), Missouri (down 17 percent), Washington (down 16 percent), New Jersey (down 7 percent), New York (down 4 percent), California (down 4 percent), Texas (down 3 percent) and Nevada (down 2 percent).

The report said 35,222 U.S. properties started the foreclosure process in November, down 19 percent from the previous month and down 15 percent from a year ago. November was the 17th consecutive month with a year over year decrease in foreclosure starts.

Twenty-nine states posted year-over-year decreases in foreclosure starts, including North Carolina (down 54 percent), Louisiana (down 45 percent), Colorado (down 43 percent), Nevada (down 29 percent) and New York (down 27 percent).

ATTOM reported 31,806 properties repossessed by lender in November, down 7 percent from the previous month and down 21 percent from a year ago. November was the ninth consecutive month with a year-over-year decrease in REOs.

The report cited 31,759 U.S. properties in November scheduled for a future public foreclosure auction, down 28 percent from the previous month and down 13 percent from a year ago. November was the 17th consecutive month with a year over year decrease in scheduled foreclosure auctions. The monthly decrease of 28 percent was the biggest decrease in the report’s history.

Thirty-two states posted year over year decreases in scheduled foreclosure auctions in November, including Maryland (down 38 percent), Indiana (down 23 percent), Illinois (down 19 percent), Alabama (down 16 percent) and Ohio (down 10 percent).

Metro areas with the highest foreclosure rates with a population of 200,000 or more in November were Harrisburg, Pa. (one in every 341 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Atlantic City, N.J. (one in every 375); Trenton, N.J. (one in every 524); Medford, Ore. (one in every 597); and Norwich-New London, Conn. (one in every 615).