U.S. Home Foreclosures Soar In March

Resetting Of Adjustable Rate Loans Expected To Propel Foreclosure Numbers During The Year

(AP)  The onslaught of homes facing foreclosures has yet to ebb, a research report showed Tuesday, with bank repossessions skyrocketing last month as more troubled homeowners mailed in their keys and walked away.

And the worst isn't over: the wave of adjustable-rate loans resetting to higher rates will crest in May and June. And that's expected to push more homeowners into default and foreclosure in the third and fourth quarters of this year, according to RealtyTrac Inc. of Irvine, Calif.

“Once we're through that batch of loans, the worst will have been worked through the system,” said Rick Sharga, RealtyTrac's vice president of marketing.

The number of U.S. homes receiving at least one foreclosure filing jumped 57 percent in March to 234,685, compared with 149,150 properties a year earlier. Filings include default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions.

The overall foreclosure rate is 5 percent higher than in February, which saw an unexpected month-to-month decline over January. March marked the 27th consecutive month of year-over-year increases in national foreclosure filings.

That meant one in every 538 households received a filing during the month. Forty-four percent were households that slipped into default for the first time and more than a fifth were homes banks took back.

Lenders took possession of homes at a sharply higher rate, up 129 percent over last year, as more homeowners relinquished their homes, said Sharga. Banks repossessed 51,393 properties nationwide, many of them without a public foreclosure auction.

“In a lot of cases, banks worked something out with the owner in advance and took back the keys and deed. For a homeowner, it's not as embarrassing and it's a little less of a blemish on their credit record compared to a foreclosure,” Sharga said.

He estimates between 750,000 and 1 million bank-owned properties will hit the market this year, or about a quarter of the homes up for sale. In some areas, these properties will continue to slow sales and depress prices further.

Declining home prices and stricter lending requirements have exacerbated the foreclosure environment. Homeowners stuck in unmanageable mortgages aren't able to sell their homes or refinance into cheaper loans before their mortgage payments reset higher.

Nevada clocked in the worst foreclosure rate for the 15th straight month. Last month, one in every 139 households received a foreclosure-related notice, nearly four times the national rate. The number of properties with a filing increased 24 percent over February and 62 percent over the previous March.

California had the second-highest foreclosure rate in the country. One in every 204 California households received a foreclosure-related notice. The state had 64,711 properties facing foreclosure, the most of any state and more than double last year's total.

In Florida, 30,254 homes reported at least one filing, down nearly 7 percent from February, but up 112 percent from the year before.

Rounding out the states with the highest foreclosure rates were Arizona, Colorado, Georgia, Ohio, Michigan, Massachusetts and Maryland.

[ov442]

Amazingly high numbers. Drop the Energy costs, and all will be well again. Because EVERYTHING will drop in price, and our cost of living will be back in the late 90s again, matching people''s stagnant incomes.

[joyous88]

ov442

that is a ridiculous assumption, the oil companies will never retreat from record profits, the price of fuel may go down a nickle or two now and than , but you can look for to to go right back up sooner or later.

You want to solvetheseeconomic problems than you will have to go to the source.

the reagan/bush republicons with their foolish neo-con
vooDoo economic theories

the republiCons have ruined our economy and the american way of life with their

greed driven capitalism

[mcvet]

Give me MORE "Trickle Down" and "Free Trade"!! Maybe in a couple of years we''ll qualify for Aid from China!!

[bgwinnett]

This is what happens when lenders and borrowers unite to form the "coalition of the deluded".

[watcher269-2009]

President Bush often argues that history will vindicate him. So he can''''t be pleased with an informal survey of 109 professional historians conducted by the History News Network. It found that 98 percent of them believe that Bush''''s presidency has been a failure, while only about 2 percent see it as a success. Not only that, more than 61 percent of the historians say the current presidency is the worst in American history. In 2004, only 11.6 percent of the historians rated Bush''''s presidency in last place. Among the reasons given for his low ratings: invading Iraq, "tax breaks for the rich," and alienating many nations around the world. Bush supporters counter that professional historians today tend to be liberal and that it''''s too early to assess how his policies will turn out - And future historians may be conservative - and that means they will try and re-write history - kindof like they are doing NOW!

[missingamerica]

The people who bought mansions with 4% adjustable rates deserve what they get.

Posted by MyOpinion1 at 10:17 AM : Apr 15, 2008

Do they? Before Republicans, they used to call that "loan sharking".

"Don''t pay the vig, and we''ll break your legs!" was merely replaced with "Don''t pay the vig, and we''ll have you and your children sleeping in cardboard boxes!".

[lochlan-2009]

It''s starting. You hear the word "depression" being snuck in here and there in the main stream media now. They are just warming us up to what''s to come...

[naucoming4u]

"It''s starting..."

Posted by lochlan at 11:06 AM : Apr 15, 2008
.............

It''s starting?

Well, actually, the middle class of America has been A$$ raped for over two decades...

...thanks to "trickle down" economics.

What we are witnessing now, is the result of that.

[timdgrim]

Foreclosure TENT sale at Sears...that would be the TENTS themselves....Buy one and get a FREE CANOPY!
We have two, three and for that family that just came in over the border..four rooms tents...Come in today!
Or call 1-800-INEEDAHOME SE Hable Espanol.....

[mcvet]

They don''''t have to fill their own tanks. They keep on approving hefty raises for themselves while we all sink. Oh and I have a 5.5% fixed 30 year rate and would never be so DUMB to buy more house than I can afford. I am intelligent, so there is no danger of that happening. The people who bought mansions with 4% adjustable rates deserve what they get.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by MyOpinion1 at 10:17 AM : Apr 15, 2008
+ report abuse

You MISSED ONE major fact! Before Bush and the Fascist there were Regulations on Lenders. You know those pesky requirements that prevented them from deception in lending and the old bait and switch, which they used? The fascist took off all regulations and INCOURAGED this. If you doubt it check out HUD''s practices and procedures under the Little Nazi. Sieg Heil Bush

[bgwinnett]

It''''s starting?

Well, actually, the middle class of America has been A$$ raped for over two decades...

...thanks to "trickle down" economics.

What we are witnessing now, is the result of that.

Posted by NAUcoming4U at 12:06 PM : Apr 15, 2008

The one consolation is that Reagan''s legacy is going to be revised significantly downwards, on the realization that deficits DO!!! matter, tax receipts don''t go up when you cut them for the rich and that making your country in debt to the rest of the World when they used to owe you was a ******* up idea.

[joyous88]

the neo con republicon economy of reagan/bush/mccain

has sowed this diaster, just like the first republicon

depression of 1929,

the republicons gave all the money to themselves (the wealthy)

and there is none left for the rest of us

[middleman8]

When "carrying charges " term was replaced with " mortgage rates " and the term " cash and carry " was dropped, people don''t realize what they are getting into.

[underdogus]

Or call 1-800-INEEDAHOME SE Hable Espanol....Posted by timdgrim . he,he..hey dont forget! the fans are 50% off at Home Depot se hable Espanol..

[forthepeopl1]

LISTEN IF THEY ( CONGRESS) WOULD DO THERE JOBS WE WOULDN''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''T BE IN THIS MESS.

ANYONE THAT TOOK OUT LOANS FROM 2000 TO 2007
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THERE CREDIT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THIS MESS MOST HAVE LOST THEIR GOOD RATING.


THEY NEED TO COME OUT AND TELL ALL MORTGAGE COMPANYS

TO RE-FI EVERYONE NOW. NO EXCEPTION IF THEY HAVE A
MORTGAGE THAN TAKE 60% OFF THE BALLANCE AND RE-FI THEM AT 1 PERCENT OVER PRIME AND STOP ALL THE BLEEDING FOR ONCE..THAT IS ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE, SIMPLE,FAST,AND IT WOULD STOP ALL FORCLOSEINGS,BURNINGS OF HOMES,AND STOP 10''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''S OF MILLIONS FROM BEING ON THE STREET..

THIS IS MORE INPORTANT, THAN THIS ***.

OR HOW ABOUT REPORTING THAT WE THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THIS FROM CLINTON AND MCCAIN. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE 374,298 AMERICANS DEAD,HURT,MAIMED IN THIS WAR YOU SUPPOTED FROM THE START..HOW ABOUT ASKING THEM THIS

[jumkey]

You REALLY need to go see someone about your problem. Try READING THE CONTRACT BEFORE SIGNING. Try ASKING YOURSELF, "Can I really afford $2400 a MONTH in mortgage payments". Try anything other than "Oh I''''ll figure it out later, just gimme that house!" The blatant disregard for rules and regulations that people did on BOTH SIDES

Posted by MyOpinion1

Nonsense. Even real estate attorneys don''t understand all of the language in mortgage agreements. Reading all of the fine print is an exercise in silliness.

That being said, the ARM''s and balloon payments should have been WELL understood before signing. If they WEREN''T then that needs to be addressed, not simply blaming the home buyer for being greedy or stupid as you apparently do.

Homeownership is endlessly lauded in our society as good and and virtuous, so to only blame homeowners who were eager to participate in the "American dream" is dishonest and misses the point.

The predatory lending practices of the mortgage industry are being conveniently swept under the rug while we use tax dollars to bail them out. This is a greater outrage than someone signing a mortgage agreement they don''t understand, and it''s telling that this escapes mention.

[getcentered]

Looking back at the last 7 years of the Bush Administration, Republican scandals, both s.e.x. and outright corruption, outing CIA agents, illegal wiretaps, torture, the 2006 election to end the Iraq War which resulted in a surge of 30,000 additional troops!(take that voters!), over 4000 U.S. dead in Iraq, a national debt over $9 trillion, a deficit budget submitted for over $239 billion, $3.50 gas prices at the pump, 80,000 jobs lost in march, Mortgage sub prime crisis, Bank failures, multiple tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, fighting the wrong war on terror in the wrong nation, Osama bin Laden still loose making audio and video! and on and on folks, and so how can Sen. Obama or almost anyone else be worst than this disaster performance of the Bush Administration the last 7 years and its not over yet!!

[getcentered]

I don''t know if I can take anymore comments from Republicans about much. The people pulling their strings think Americans are dumb, and maybe some of us are, but I know what the word DEFICIT means and that''s what this country is in. A huge deficit. The dollar was matched against the euro 8 years ago. We are plain PRINTING money for Iraq!

I know lets just print some more money.....AND THEN give it to the banks!! So they can loan us some money that we aren''t making from our jobs to help us pay for things like houses, which we will eventually defalt the payments on because the interest rates skyrocketed!! (Because the country was in debt) Then our GOVERNEMNT bails out the banks!! Yea!! Rich people win!!!

[getcentered]

We might not own Iraq but we certainly are paying for it.

[naucoming4u]

Homeownership is endlessly lauded in our society as good and and virtuous, so to only blame homeowners who were eager to participate in the "American dream" is dishonest and misses the point.

The predatory lending practices of the mortgage industry are being conveniently swept under the rug while we use tax dollars to bail them out. This is a greater outrage than someone signing a mortgage agreement they don''''t understand, and it''''s telling that this escapes mention.

Posted by jumkey at 01:21 PM : Apr 15, 2008
.............

Yes.

And also add to the fact that jobs in America are very unstable. Many have lost their once "safe" or "stable" job due to outsourcing/offshoring and/or pure budget cutbacks from the top. When it takes two incomes (or more) to afford even a modest home in or near your average metro area.

When one of those incomes (jobs) goes away, so does the home (eventually).

[jumkey]

"My real estate agents AND the closing company took the time to explain my many questions to me throughout the process. They knew what they were talking about and the wording was pretty clear. Just had to read."

You said YOU read it and YOU understood it - now someone had to EXPLAIN it to you? If the "wording was clear" why did you need someone to explain to you?

You''re contradicting yourself in your headlong rush to blame the victim. You should slow down a little.

[getcentered]

The trillion plus we waste in Iraq could have done so much more for our security or economy if spent on just about anything else.

It is perfectly true that an Iraq withdrawal will require something very painful: admitting a colossal strategic mistake. This is the #1 unbearable disgrace for Republicans and all other core backers of the war and occupation. The #2 disgrace would be payment of reparations to Iraq through a UN or World Bank trust. #3 would be the outrage of the post-occupation Iraqi government resolving the oil issue on its own terms, possibly contracting French, Russian, and Chinese firms, while leaving US or UK firms on the sidelines.

Self-denial, vanity, fear to face the music, and greed are at play. It has nothing to do with US security. The fiasco has made us less secure, drained lives and money, and now we are the laughingstock of much of the world.

Don''t believe in polls? Well, how about the value of the US dollar on world exchanges?

Let Iraqis rule Iraq, whether by federation, partition, or unitary state. Any model we impose will crumble the day we leave, whether that occurs now or in 100 years. Iraq will not be pro-US, pro-Israel, or pro-anything we favor so long as we occupy them, or as long as we contrived to have privileged access to their oil.

Medieval Europeans wasted 250 years on their venture. Better to learn from them, plus from Britain''s troubles in Iraq in the 1920s onward, rather than repeat a futile imperial exercise.

[underdogus]

OIL BREAKS 113$ NEW RECORD: the path to 115$ is cleared, don''t hold on to your stocks,hold on to your socks!!!

[naucoming4u]

"My real estate agents AND the closing company took the time to explain my many questions to me throughout the process. They knew what they were talking about and the wording was pretty clear. Just had to read."

You said YOU read it and YOU understood it - now someone had to EXPLAIN it to you? If the "wording was clear" why did you need someone to explain to you?

You''''re contradicting yourself in your headlong rush to blame the victim. You should slow down a little.

Posted by jumkey at 02:23 PM : Apr 15, 2008
..............

If only everybody''s mortgage lender was as clear, concise, and honest as they were for "MyOpinion1". If so, then this foreclosure issue would not be anywhere as big as it is today!

Ah, but where did those used car sales people go earlier this decade?...

...Yes folks... many simply graduated from lying/conning people into buying used cars, right into lying and conning people into sub-prime mortgages (when in many cases, a conventional/prime mortgage would have sufficed... or no approval at all).

[naucoming4u]

OIL BREAKS 113$ NEW RECORD: the path to 115$ is cleared, don''''t hold on to your stocks,hold on to your socks!!!

Posted by underdogus at 02:36 PM : Apr 15, 2008
...........

And we haven''t even invaded Iran yet!

[forthepeopl1]

if it aint MR. POTATOHEAD, LOOKS PRITTY SCARED DOENT HE. ITS FUNNY TO HAVE THIS INSIDER OF WALLSTREET HAVE SO MUCH POWER..


LISTEN IF THEY ( CONGRESS) WOULD DO THERE JOBS WE WOULDN''''''''T BE IN THIS MESS.

ANYONE THAT TOOK OUT LOANS FROM 2000 TO 2007
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THERE CREDIT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THIS MESS MOST HAVE LOST THEIR GOOD RATING.


THEY NEED TO COME OUT AND TELL ALL MORTGAGE COMPANYS

TO RE-FI EVERYONE NOW. NO EXCEPTION IF THEY HAVE A
MORTGAGE THAN TAKE 60% OFF THE BALLANCE AND RE-FI THEM AT 1 PERCENT OVER PRIME AND STOP ALL THE BLEEDING FOR ONCE..THAT IS ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE, SIMPLE,FAST,AND IT WOULD STOP ALL FORCLOSEINGS,BURNINGS OF HOMES,AND STOP 10''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''S OF MILLIONS FROM BEING ON THE STREET..

THIS IS MORE INPORTANT, THAN THIS ***.

OR HOW ABOUT REPORTING THAT WE THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THIS FROM CLINTON AND MCCAIN. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE 374,298 AMERICANS DEAD,HURT,MAIMED IN THIS WAR YOU SUPPOTED FROM THE START..HOW ABOUT ASKING THEM THIS


TIME TO MARCH DOWN AND TAKE THEM OUT..

and remember this ,OH BIN SAID HE WOULD DETROY AMERICA IN THE FINNANCE WORLD,, I GUESS HE HAS WON. ONLY BECAUSE OF THE BUSH ADMINASTRATION..

[tylenol6]

Bin Laden DIED in 2001.........Do your research......

[mcv57]

Did they have a Mexican accent . . . not to many White Americans in the Real Escape Business anymore, except the low life scum like Corporate management.

[mcv57]

Posted by jumkey

Did they have a Mexican accent . . . not to many White Americans in the Real Escape Business anymore, except the low life scum like Corporate management.

[mcv57]

Posted by jamesm12341

You sound so ignorant. Why are you calling them P*)(&*))(&.?????

[mcvet]

the cry of the *******


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by jamesm12341 at 06:32 PM : Apr 15, 2008
+ report abuse

This from a low life NAZI who has never worn the uniform in combat! How do I know? No Veteran who has heard the sound of an American Fall at his side would EVER say the disgusting things this fascist slime dog says... NEVER!! Sieg Heil Bush

[forthepeopl1]

if it aint MR. POTATOHEAD, LOOKS PRITTY SCARED DOENT HE. ITS FUNNY TO HAVE THIS INSIDER OF WALLSTREET HAVE SO MUCH POWER..


LISTEN IF THEY ( CONGRESS) WOULD DO THERE JOBS WE WOULDN''''''''T BE IN THIS MESS.

ANYONE THAT TOOK OUT LOANS FROM 2000 TO 2007
REGARDLESS OF WHAT THERE CREDIT LOOKS LIKE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE OF THIS MESS MOST HAVE LOST THEIR GOOD RATING.


THEY NEED TO COME OUT AND TELL ALL MORTGAGE COMPANYS

TO RE-FI EVERYONE NOW. NO EXCEPTION IF THEY HAVE A
MORTGAGE THAN TAKE 60% OFF THE BALLANCE AND RE-FI THEM AT 1 PERCENT OVER PRIME AND STOP ALL THE BLEEDING FOR ONCE..THAT IS ALL THAT HAS TO BE DONE, SIMPLE,FAST,AND IT WOULD STOP ALL FORCLOSEINGS,BURNINGS OF HOMES,AND STOP 10''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''S OF MILLIONS FROM BEING ON THE STREET..

THIS IS MORE INPORTANT, THAN THIS ***.

OR HOW ABOUT REPORTING THAT WE THE PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW THIS FROM CLINTON AND MCCAIN. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SAY TO THE 374,298 AMERICANS DEAD,HURT,MAIMED IN THIS WAR YOU SUPPOTED FROM THE START..HOW ABOUT ASKING THEM THIS


TIME TO MARCH DOWN AND TAKE THEM OUT..

[underdogus]

OIL BREAKS 113$ NEW RECORD: the path to 115$ is cleared, don''''''''''''''''t hold on to your stocks,hold on to your socks!!!

Posted by underdogus at 02:36 PM : Apr 15, 2008
NEW RECORD:114.93$...hmmm MR JAMES1234 you ignorant imbecile,but that doesn''t stop him from blabbering nonsense.......

[beehive21-2009]

You people have a lot to say, however it make no cents.Someone said, 1 % of the homes are in foreclosure ,thats all,what me worry.

[forthepeopl1]

HEY BEEHIVE, YOUR A NUT..TRY SOME OF THIS NEWS FOR YOU IN THE LAST 6YEARS, OVER 5 MILLION HOMES FORCLOSE ON..MOW LETS LOOK AT THE PAST YEAR, 6 MILLION AND COUNTING, ITS GOING TO BE AT LEAST 12 TO 20 MILLION HOMES..GET A LIFE.

[forthepeopl1]

please this is a simple thing to fix, why are you bending over for all of the wallstreet scum.
you have the right to do what this paulson/ben did for wallstreet,saying they had to to save america. so you can say the same thing, but this time you would be saveing america, and not wallstreet.
you must come out and stop the forcloseing of all these millions of homes, now,
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS MANDATE THAT ALL MORTGAGES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN OUT FROM 2000 TO 2007 BY ALL AMERICANS TO BE RE-FI A.S.A.P. NO EXCEPTIONS,


NO MATTER WHAT THE CREDIT IS, THEY WILL RE-FI EVERYONE AT JUST OVER PRIME, AND AT A RATE OF 40% OF WHAT IS OWED ON THE PROPERTY( PERSONAL HOMES ONLY)!!
WHY, BECAUSE MOST HOST ARE SELLING AT FORCLOSER FOR 20 TO 30 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR, SO AS TO WHAT PAULSON SAID TO BEARSTEARN 2 DOLLARS IS BETTER THAN NO DOLLARS SO TAKE THE DEAL..NOW REMEMBER ALL OF YOU, IF THIS COMPANY IN 6 MONTHS LOST 98% OF THEIR VALUE FROM 700 BILLION TO WHAT IS IT NOW. AND FOR SOMEONE TO COME IN AND BUY IT FOR NOTHING, WHAT IS THE REAL VALUE OF ALL THESE HOMES???NOBODY KNOWS, SO WHY NOT JUST START OVER??? AND STOP THE BLEEDING FOR ALL AMERICANS.

[e-mail]
DAVID A BELANGER
FOR COMMON SENSE THIS IS SO EASY TO FIX DONT MAKE IT HARDER THAN IT IS PEOPLE