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US Foreclosure Rates - Has Real Estate Hit Bottom

Posted Monday, June 29, 2009

One way to determine if the state of our economy is improving is by monitoring foreclosure rates. Foreclosure rates across the country vary in different regions.

Foreclosures can signal a huge change in the real estate market. While they can be hot deals for buyers looking to purchase large properties at a fraction of their valued cost, the impact foreclosures have on the market overall can be a highly negative one. Foreclosed homes are typically in disrepair and a crumbling mess long before the bank steps in to take over. In addition, selling a home that is highly undervalued will undercut overall price comparisons in the neighborhood, which devalues numerous homes in its wake.

As the economy continues to decline, the number of foreclosed homes continues to grow. While some analysts will tell you that the foreclosed homes and sluggish real estate market are signs that the real estate bubble is simply righting itself after years of a bubble inflated industry, homeowners with nearby foreclosed homes in their neighborhood and the victims themselves will often feel at a loss on how to control the negative spin.

Overall, 1.9 million homes have recently gone into foreclosure across the county. The average sale on these foreclosed homes is roughly $172,000. Of course, this number reflects both large and small properties alike, as well as homes whose owners had been paying their mortgages on time for years before the economic downturn made paying their mortgage payments more difficult.

What are the biggest markets for foreclosures across the nation? Is your state one of the areas experiencing the highest rates of foreclosure? Consult this list of states that experience high foreclosures to see if your state is one of the most affected areas:






California tops the list at over 92,000 foreclosures. Meanwhile, Florida runs in second place with nearly 59,000 foreclosures. Nevada, Arizona and Michigan each have roughly 15,000 foreclosures, while Ohio, Illinois, Georgia and Texas has approximately 10,000 foreclosures. Virginia ends the list with just over 5,000 foreclosed homes.

Foreclosed homes aren’t limited to a specific economic bracket, either. Every neighborhood has become vulnerable, including high end homes in desirable neighborhoods. Many analysts blame adjustable rate mortgages or no doc loans as a major cause of the increased foreclosures. Since these  no doc loans don’t require verification of the borrowers’ income, they pose a much higher risk than other traditional forms of home loans.

The top five states California, Florida, Nevada, Arizona and Michigan constitute the greatest percentage of the nations foreclosures in June. As the market restructures and the economy continues to adjust to financial changes, expect the rate of foreclosed homes to decease slowly over time.

After all, foreclosed homes put pressure on financial institutions to stop lending to anyone with a potentially risky financial profile. For this reason, even secure homeowners cannot sell their homes as new buyers are unable to obtain the funds they need to purchase new property on the market.

If you need are in a situation where you are thinking how can I sell my house fast, I suggest contacting a local home buying expert in your area. Local home buying experts exist in every major city in the United States. Many times these home buyers can purchase homes quickly so you can move on with your life.