Foreclosure Filings are Down as the Time to Foreclosure Speeds Up In Some States
July 13, 2011
On average it took less Time to Foreclose in California, Arizona and Nevada in June 2011, countering what has been a growing trend to extend the foreclosure process. The time to foreclose has increased on a year-over-year basis throughout our coverage area, with the largest increase seen in Nevada where it now takes on average 319 days to foreclose, up from 239 days a year ago. California saw the second most significant increase with the average time to foreclose at 317 days, up from 261 days a year ago. The least change was observed in Washington where the average time to foreclose is 106 days, only slightly higher than the 105 days seen a year ago.
Foreclosure filing activity was down throughout our coverage area in June 2011, with fewer foreclosure filings in all states. There were fewer foreclosure sales, both Back to Bank and Sold to 3rd Parties everywhere except Oregon which saw an uptick in activity at the courthouse steps.
“While the decrease in the time to foreclose last month is statistically interesting,” says Sean O’Toole, CEO and Founder of ForeclosureRadar, “We do not see it as signaling an end to lenders looking to avoid losses that they can’t afford by continuing the extend and pretend policies of the past.”
California saw slowed foreclosure activity across the board. Notice of Default filings fell for the third consecutive month after a slight 1.5 percent drop in June. Notice of Trustee Sale filings were down in June as well, with an 11.7 percent decline month-over-month and a 34.3 percent drop from June 2010. Cancellations of foreclosure sales decreased for the second time in as many months, with a 3.0 percent drop compared to May. Foreclosure sales on the courthouse steps were slower than the prior month, with 13.4 percent fewer sales Back to Bank and 7.1 percent fewer foreclosed properties Sold to 3rd Parties. For the first time in six months the average time to foreclose decreased, down 7.9 percent to 317 days month-over-month but remained up 21.5 percent as compared to this time last year. Third parties continued to resell inventory more quickly, with the time to resell down 1.5 percent month-over-month to 131 days, clearly outperforming banks, which took an average of one hundred days longer at 231 days to resell inventory (REO).
Data courtesy of Foreclosure Radar
