U.S. foreclosure filings rise 47 percent in March
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/By BLOOMBERG NEWS
Regnat Populus
April 18, 2007

Banks began foreclosure proceedings against 47 percent more U.S. homeowners last month compared with a year ago as falling housing prices made it more difficult for borrowers to refinance mortgages.

More than 149,000 filings were posted in March, the highest number since RealtyTrac Inc. began collecting data in January 2005, the Irvine, Calif.-based research company said Wednesday in a statement. California filings rose to 31,434, more than triple the number a year ago. Nevada and Colorado had the largest percentage gains.

The number of owners making late payments on mortgages is at a four-year high and the failure or sale of 50 subprime mortgage companies has tightened the supply of money for lending. The National Association of Realtors is forecasting that the median price of a home will fall 0.7 percent this year to $220,300.

RealtyTrac is an online subscription service that identifies foreclosure properties.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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This article was published Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Regnat Populus

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