Foreclosures Increase in 1st Quarter

Writer Shannon Behnken, of the Tampa Tribune, reported in an article on 4/12,  that foreclosure activity rose 26% in Florida, and 24% in the Tampa area during the first quarter, according to Realty Trac. In metro Tampa, there were 10,437 foreclosure filings, default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank respossessions...up 17% from the same period in 2011. Nationwide, there were 572,928, down 2% for the quarter. In 26 states where judges must approve foreclosures, activity increased. Although the Tampa bay area increased 17%, Pinellas County declined 17%, Hillsborough was up 13% and Pasco increased 68% during the quarter.