PMZBuzz

For the eighth straight consecutive month, national foreclosure activity in the U.S. was dominated by a small set of states.  As reported by RealtyTrac.com, more than half of October’s foreclosure-related activity came from just 4 states:

1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan

The remaining Top 10 states in terms of total foreclosure activity included Arizona, Georgia, Texas, Ohio, New Jersey, and Maryland.  Foreclosures are up 19 percent from last October, but a deeper look at the RealtyTrac report revealed two positive developments for the housing market.

1. Foreclosure activity is down 3 percent from last month
2. Foreclosures per Household decreased in 9 of the 10 most heavily concentrated states

Furthermore, Nevada’s foreclosure pace is down 4% from last year.  This is a big deal because Nevada has long led the nation in foreclosure-related activity. Until last month, Nevada’s year-to-year foreclosure rate hadn’t fallen in more than 4 years.  It’s too soon to say that the foreclosure market is drying up, but bargains are getting harder to come by.  First-time buyers and bona fide investors alike have been snapping up property at a furious pace.  According to an industry trade group, distressed homes account for nearly one-third of home resale activity.  That said, buying foreclosures isn’t for everyone.

For one, properties are often sold as-is and may be defective.  The cost of repairs may negate “the deal” or “the steal” — depending on the cost of the home.  Secondly, closing on a foreclosed home can be a 3-month long process. This is because banks rarely process home sale paperwork as fast as a “person” would. A 3-month timeframe may not fit your schedule.  In the end, fundamentally, buying a foreclosed home is the same as buying a “regular” home — there’s a contract and a closing.  Most of the steps in the middle, however, are different.   Read the complete foreclosure report and take a peek at the foreclosure heat maps on the RealtyTrac website.  If you like what you see, talk to your real estate agent about what to do next.  There’s still good deals in the foreclosure market, but based on October’s data, they may not last through the winter.

Brought to you by your trusted advisor: Daniel A. Sosa

Once again, the country’s foreclosures are concentrated in just a few states.  As reported by foreclosure-tracking company RealtyTrac.com, more than 50 percent of the country’s foreclosure-related actions in August occurred in just four states:

• California : 25.76 percent
• Florida : 17.4 percent
• Michigan :  5.4 percent
• Nevada : 5.0 percent

The rest of the “Top 10″ foreclosure states included Arizona, Illinois, Georgia, Ohio, Texas and New Jersey.  Versus July’s numbers, the U.S. foreclosure rate improved last month.  However, the August data is awful in comparison to last year — foreclosures are up nearly 18 percent.

The silver lining? High foreclosure rates are yielding tremendous opportunities for today’s home buyers. Buyers of distressed properties now account for about one-third of all home sales and low mortgage rates and a federal tax credit are spurring sales.  Search the complete August 2009 foreclosure report for yourself, including foreclosure heatmaps and other trends on the RealtyTrac website….

To read more of my mortgage industry blogs, or to begin your mortgage loan approval, visit:

http://www.loanapproval411.com/info_01/page_1.rad

Sincerely and respectfully,

Daniel A. Sosa

PMZ Mortgage Consultant

Office: 209-472-2010 x4716

Cell: 209-298-8017

Email: dsosa@pmzloans.com

Website: www.loanapproval411.com