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IN THE NEWS July Home Sales Up in Massachusetts as Prices Stay Flat State continued their steady rise in July, ac- cording to the Warren Group. A total of 4,979 single-family homes sold Sales of single-family homes in the Bay statewide in July, up almost 27 percent year-over- year. This July was the best for sales volume since 2005, when sales reached 6,672. Year-to-date, 26,596 homes have sold in Massachusetts, a 24.8 percent increase from the same period in 2011. Cory S. Hopkins, editorial director of loan mods on behalf of distressed homeown- ers; it provides legal representation to bor- rowers facing foreclosure at no charge; and it offers transitional assistance and supportive resources to families post-foreclosure. Officials toured an abandoned home Michigan currently under renovation after three years of vacancy. The owner is receiving assistance from the Affordable Housing Initiative (AHI) and through funds from the HomeCorps Municipal and Community Restoration Grants. "Brockton has the greatest concentration the Warren Group, says the news is cause for cautious optimism. "There are a lot of good signs pointing toward a real estate recovery," he said. "But we are comparing sales to a very depressed market last summer, so it's impor- tant to step back and realign expectations." July also saw condominium sales increase in the state, rising 34 percent year-over-year. Year-to-date condo sales rose almost 26 per- cent compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, the median price of single- of foreclosures in Plymouth County, and is in the top three state-wide," said Mayor Balzotti. "In Brockton, we are working collaboratively with local nonprofits, state, and federal agencies to address foreclosed homes impacting neighborhoods in our community. Programs like HomeCorps help us continue this important work." The Brockton Redevelopment Authority (BRA) has received $250,000 to purchase foreclosures and rehabilitate them with the intention of selling the properties to low-to- moderate income homebuyers. The AG's office says officials have seen family homes remained more or less flat, increasing less than 1 percent to $318,000. July was the second consecutive month this year that prices exceeded $300,000. The median condo price, on the other Caryn Jensen Jerry Takis Combined years experience: 40+ c: Caryn 248.320.5760, Jerry 248.755.5600 cjsellsre@comcast.net, jerry@takishomes.com o: 248.681.8300 www.legacy4u.com STAT INSIGHT an uptick in reports of abandoned homes. As such, they expanded the AHI, which holds 255 such properties. hand, slipped a bit to $295,000, down 0.3 percent from a year earlier. There's some good news, though: The year-to-date median price of condos in Massachusetts is $280,000, up almost 3 percent from the same period in 2011. Coakley Hosts Event to Raise Awareness of HomeCorps Program Coakley joined HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan and Brockton Mayor Linda M. Balzotti on August 27 to tour an abandoned property in Brockton while raising awareness of foreclosure programs in the state. Coakley directed attention to the Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Michigan rank: 34 90+ Day 2.78% 3.48% -19.94% 90+ Day 5.07% year ago 6.67% percent point change -24.03% -11.06% Top Core-Based Statistical Area FLINT, MI 90+ Day HomeCorps foreclosure prevention program, which is funded in part by the national mort- gage settlement. According to the attorney general's office, the HomeCorps hotline has received more than 7,811 calls since April and averages about 50 calls per day. The statewide program employs a team of loan modification specialists who advocate for 96 4.37% year ago 5.18% percent point change -15.72% -3.20% note: The 90+ Day delinquecy rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans that are 90- plus days delinquent. The foreclosure rate is the percentage of outstanding mortgage loans currently in foreclosure. State rank is based on the July 2012 foreclosure rate. All figures are rounded to the nearest decimal. The unemployment rate reflects preliminary July 2012 figures released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. All other data courtesy of Lender Processing Services. Call 214.525.6700 or visit DSNews.com. 3.09% Delinquency Rate july 2012 2.99% Foreclosure Rate The information you need, Loud and Clear. 3.74% Delinquency Rate Foreclosure Rate july 2012 2.12% year ago 2.51% percent point change -15.52% Top County WAYNE COUNTY Delinquency Rate july 2012 3.33% The World Wide Web is a busy place. DSNews.com cuts through the noise. Foreclosure Rate Unemployment Rate 9.0% 10.6% -15.1% underwater as of July. Percentage of current loans in Michigan Source: Lender Processing Services