New data released today shows that 1.2 million foreclosure filings were reported nationwide during 2006, up 42 percent from 2005, and representing a foreclosure rate of one filing for every 92 U.S. households. The report, published by RealtyTrac, found that the number of total foreclosure filings nationwide rose from about 885,000 in 2005 to 1,259,118 in 2006. “While foreclosures are not at historically high levels, a 42 percent year-over-year increase is certainly noteworthy,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. “The increase in the number of properties in foreclosure was driven partly by the general slowing of overall housing sales, and partly by the impact of monthly mortgage payments increasing dramatically for homeowners who held some of the riskier types of adjustable rate and sub-prime mortgages. As more and more of these loans re-set, we saw a surge to finish the year, with the fourth quarter producing more foreclosure filings than any of the three previous quarters.” “It’s true that foreclosures could have a negative impact on the housing market if they continue to increase at this rate. And in some of the more problematic local markets they already may be contributing to slowing home price appreciation and a glut of homes for sale,” he said. Colorado, Georgia, Nevada post highest foreclosure rates Colorado documented the nation’s highest state foreclosure rate for the year, one foreclosure filing for every 33 households — or 3 percent of the state’s households. The state reported a total of 54,747 foreclosure filings during the year, an 85 percent increase from 2005 and the eighth highest total among all the states. Georgia and Nevada both reported one foreclosure filing for every 41 households in 2006, but Georgia edged out Nevada with a slightly higher percentage of households in foreclosure — 2.5 percent compared to 2.4 percent in Nevada. Georgia reported a total of 75,975 foreclosure filings during the year, the sixth most of any state and a 67 percent year-over-year increase. Nevada foreclosures surged in fourth quarter, pushing the state’s total for the year to 21,045 — nearly three times the number reported in 2005. Other states with foreclosure rates among the nation’s 10 highest included Texas, Michigan, Indiana, Florida, Ohio, Utah and Tennessee. Texas, California, Florida report biggest foreclosure totals Texas reported 156,876 foreclosure filings for the year, the most of any state and nearly 13 percent of the national total. The state consistently reported big foreclosure numbers throughout 2006, documenting the highest monthly total eight times, and foreclosures for the year were up more than 14 percent from 2005. Texas’ foreclosure total represented nearly 2 percent of the state’s households — or one foreclosure filing for every 51 households — giving the state the nation’s fourth highest state foreclosure rate. Rising foreclosure activity in the fourth quarter pushed California’s 2006 foreclosure total to second highest among the states. The state reported 142,429 foreclosure filings during the year, more than twice the number reported in 2005 and accounting for more than 11 percent of the national total. Florida foreclosure activity remained relatively flat in 2006, up just 2 percent from 2005, but the state’s foreclosure total still placed third highest among all the states. The state’s foreclosure rate dropped to seventh highest in 2006 after claiming the top spot in 2005. Other states with 2006 foreclosure totals among the nation’s 10 highest included Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, Illinois, Colorado, New York and Indiana. Detroit, Atlanta, Indianapolis report highest metro foreclosure rates With an average of more than 10,000 foreclosure filings in each quarter, Detroit documented the highest annual foreclosure rate among the nation’s 100 largest metropolitan statistical areas. The city’s foreclosure rate was 4.5 times the national average. Atlanta’s 2006 foreclosure total of 63,737 represented 4.4 percent of the city’s households — second highest among the top 100 MSAs and more than four times the national average. Consistently high foreclosure filings throughout the year helped the Atlanta’s foreclosure rate rank in the number-two spot despite never being higher than third place in any quarter. Indianapolis foreclosures decreased in the second, third and fourth quarters, but the city still documented the nation’s third highest metro foreclosure rate — with total foreclosure filings representing 4.3 percent of all households. Other cities with foreclosure rates among the nation’s 10 highest were Denver, Dallas, Fort Worth, Las Vegas, Memphis, Fort Lauderdale and Miami. For more information, visit http://www.realtytrac.com.