Foreclosure filings continue to slow down in Whatcom County, according to a national report.
For the first six months of 2012, RealtyTrac estimates Whatcom County residents received 213 foreclosure filings, down 40 percent compared to the first half of 2011. In June alone, 35 Whatcom County housing units received a foreclosure filing, down from 52 the previous month. RealtyTrac is a national online database for foreclosure activity.
Whatcom's foreclosure rate for the first half of the year was one filing for every 426 housing units. That's better than the state rate of one for every 255 units and the U.S. rate of one for every 126 units.
Nationally foreclosure activity in the first half of 2012 was down 11 percent compared to the same period in 2011. It increased 2 percent compared to the second half of 2011, however.
"Additional scrutiny on how lenders and servicers process foreclosures, along with aggressive foreclosure prevention efforts by the federal government and several state governments, continue to keep a lid on the foreclosure problem at a national level," said Brandon Moore, CEO of RealtyTrac, in a news release.
Nevada, Arizona and Georgia posted the top foreclosure rates in the first half of 2012. Washington state ranked 35th highest.
Reach DAVE GALLAGHER at dave.gallagher@bellinghamherald.com or call 715-2269. Visit his business blog online at blogs.bellinghamherald.com/business or get updates on Twitter at twitter.com/BhamHeraldBiz.
