By SHANNON BEHNKEN
The Tampa Tribune
Published: May 14, 2008
TAMPA – Florida’s rate of foreclosure filings was the fourth worst among all states in April, and the Tampa Bay area’s rate ranked 34th worst among metro areas, according to RealtyTrac, a California-based housing research firm.
There were 35,264 filings in Florida in April, up 17 percent from March and up 146 percent from April last year.
The metro area that includes Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater saw a 9 percent increase in filings in April, when compared with the previous month, and a 120 percent increase compared with the same month in 2007.
Florida’s results were a little better than last month, though, when it ranked third worst in March. In April, Florida was edged out by Arizona for the dubious distinction. Nevada and California were first and second, respectively.
RealtyTrac counts all foreclosure filings – default notices, auction notices and bank repossessions.
Nationwide, one in every 519 households received a filing during the month. Filings were reported on 243,353 properties, a 4 percent increase from the previous month, and up 65 percent from April 2007. In Florida, one in every 242 households received a filing. And locally, one in every 311 households received a filing.
Today’s announcement may further worry those who hoped the foreclosure trend was starting to reverse. In March, Florida and the local area saw a glimpse of hope as both had fewer filings than the previous month.
“It’s unfortunate, but we don’t count the month-to-month data as a trend until it happens several times,” said Daren Blomquist, RealtyTrac spokesman.
