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State of Affairs PRESENTS TOP NEWS Foreclosure activity in two-thirds of the nation's largest metros slowed over the July-to-September period, according to RealtyTrac. Out of 212 metropolitan areas with a population of 200,000 or more, 134—or 62 percent—saw a decline in foreclosure filings from the second to third quarters. Comparing Q3 2011 to Q3 2012, 131 experienced a decline in filings. Among the 20 largest metros, the biggest declines were in San Francisco (-36 percent), Detroit (-31 percent), Los Angeles (-29 percent), Phoenix (-27 percent), and San Diego (-26 percent). RealtyTrac says the results indicate "most of the nation's housing markets are past the worst of the foreclosure problem," but the company warns that "rebounding foreclosure activity in some markets remains a threat to home price stability and growth." In New York, foreclosure activity shot up 69 percent in the third quarter. Tampa (+43 percent), Philadelphia (+34 percent), and Chicago (+34 percent) also saw significant increases in foreclosures. According to RealtyTrac VP Daren Blomquist, "The rebounding foreclosure activity tends to be in markets where the foreclosure process slowed down most dramatically in the last two years, resulting in a buildup of foreclosures in limbo that lenders are finally working through this year." Note: The state-by-state trends are based on a compilation of September 2012 real estate public records data and proprietary mortgage loan performance transactions provided by Lender Processing Services, Inc. as well as a preliminary unemployment rate for September 2012 based upon public information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) is a provider of mortgage and consumer loan processing services, mortgage settlement services, default solutions, and loan performance analytics, as well as solutions for the real estate industry, capital markets investors, and government offices. Formed from a 2008 spin-off, LPS' predecessor companies date back nearly half a century to the early beginnings of computing and statistical services. LPS' high-performance technology, robust data, innovative services, and award-winning customer support are why most of the nation's top 50 banks have chosen LPS to provide the solutions they need in today's competitive marketplace. To learn more about LPS visit lpsvcs.com.