

-
JulieanneBirch
An 11-Year Low
Foreclosure activity continued to subside nationwide in February, reaching an 11-year-low.
The number of foreclosure filings in February was the lowest since November 2005, according to a press release from Attom Data Solutions, a property data provider.
Foreclosure activity dropped on a year-over-year basis for the 17th consecutive month. However, foreclosures persisted in some places.
Ten states, as well as the District of Columbia, saw a rise in filings on a year-over-year basis. New Jersey, already among the states foreclosure has hit hardest, experienced a 16% year-over-year increase in filings, the biggest in the country.
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
A Positive National Trend
The national trend remained positive, however. One good sign: Foreclosure starts were down 13% in February from the prior year, the 20th consecutive month with a year-over-year drop.
Bank repossessions, which accounted for the largest share of foreclosure activity in February, were also down, not only from January but compared to February 2016 as well.
Losing your home to foreclosure can wreck your credit. If you’re struggling with mortgage payments, check out our guide on how to stay out of foreclosure and keep up with how your loan is affecting your credit by viewing a free credit report summary every two weeks on Credit.com.
Here are the 10 states that had the highest foreclosure rates in February.
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
f11photo
10. Pennsylvania
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,406 housing units
Change from January 2017: up 1.25% (was No. 11)
Change from February 2016: down 11.79% (was No. 12)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
Boogich
9. Florida
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,194 housing units
Change from January 2017: down 2.74% (was No. 6)
Change from February 2016: down 31.2% (was No. 6)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
SeanPavonePhoto
8. South Carolina
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,176 housing units
Change from January 2017: up 4.46% (was No. 8)
Change from February 2016: down 5.76% (was No. 9)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
DenisTangneyJr
7. Connecticut
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,167 housing units
Change from January 2017: up 4.16% (was No. 7)
Change from February 2016: down 9.1% (was No. 8)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
Davel5957
6. Ohio
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,088 housing units
Change from January 2017: up 18.43% (was No. 10)
Change from February 2016: down 4.8% (was No. 7)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
4nadia
5. Nevada
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,083 housing units
Change from January 2017: down 10.56% (was No. 5)
Change from February 2016: down 32.45% (was No. 3)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
stevegeer
4. Illinois
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 888 housing units
Change from January 2017: up 7.6% (was No. 4)
Change from February 2016: down 9.79% (was No. 5)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
SeanPavonePhoto
3. Maryland
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 750 housing units
Change from January 2017: up 12.26% (was No. 3)
Change from February 2016: down 31.6% (was No. 1)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
omersukrugoksu
2. Delaware
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 664 housing units
Change from January 2017: up 25.3% (was No. 2)
Change from February 2016: up 14.08% (was No. 4)
Previous Slide
Next Slide -
LukeAbrahams
1. New Jersey
February 2017 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 583 housing units
Change from January 2017: up 12.62% (was No. 1)
Change from February 2016: up 16.18% (was No. 2)
Previous Slide
Next Slide
Image: JulieanneBirch