Thursday, September 15, 2011

Illinois' Aug. home foreclosures rise 17.6 percent

CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois home foreclosure activity rose 17.6 percent in August compared to the previous month.

A report released Thursday by Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac shows Illinois with 12,493 foreclosure filings last month. Filings include default notices, auction-sale notices and bank repossessions.

The filings represent one in every 424 housing units in the state. That rate is almost 26 percent lower than in August of last year and eighth-highest nationally.

RealtyTrac says the increase in many states likely is due to lenders resolving paperwork processing problems that had delayed many foreclosures. And it may signal more bank repossessions in coming months.

Nevada continued to have the nation's highest foreclosure rate — one in every 118 housing units.

Other states with foreclosure rates higher than Illinois are Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Idaho and Michigan.