Foreclosures expected to rise in 2012

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency released its latest report, which shows delinquencies remained elevated during the third quarter of 2011. The number of new foreclosures increased by 21 percent during the quarter, partly due to servicers lifting the voluntary “foreclosure freeze” implemented in late 2010 as a result of the robo-signing scandal. The overall increase has resulted in the number of foreclosures in process increasing to 4.1 percent of the overall portfolio, or 1,327,077 loans, at the end of the third quarter of 2011. This supports RealtyTrac’s latest data, which also predicts increased foreclosure activity in 2012. “November’s numbers suggest a new set of incoming foreclosure waves, many of which may roll into the market as REOs (bank-owned homes) or short sales sometime early next year,” said James Saccacio, co-founder of RealtyTrac, in a statement. Agents can help stem the tide of foreclosures in their market by educating distressed homeowners on alternatives, such as short sales. Contact your local GBH Realtor for help on avoiding foreclosure.