Despite an overall increase in foreclosures, some metro areas are seeing rates decrease and other areas developing into trouble spots.
*Actual increase may not be as high due to data collection changes or improvements
**Collection of records classified as NOD began in August 2009 because of change in state law
? Collection of some records previously classified as NOD in this MSA was discontinued starting in January 2009
?? Collection of some records previously classified as NOD in this MSA was discontinued starting in September 2008
Report methodology
The RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report provides a count of the total number of properties with at least one foreclosure filing reported during the third quarter of 2009. Data is also available at the individual county level and MSA level. Data is collected from more than 2,200 counties nationwide, and those counties account for more than 90% of the U.S. population. RealtyTrac's report incorporates documents filed in all three phases of foreclosure: Default — Notice of Default (NOD) and Lis Pendens (LIS); Auction — Notice of Trustee Sale and Notice of Foreclosure Sale (NTS and NFS); and Real Estate Owned, or REO properties (that have been foreclosed on and repurchased by a bank). If more than one foreclosure document is filed against a property during the quarter, only the most recent filing is counted in the report.
