Richmond area’s foreclosure problem getting worse

[Blue_Tires]

The foreclosure problem in the Richmond area has gotten worse, according to a midyear metropolitan market report released this morning by RealtyTrac.

More people here are having trouble paying their mortgages, although the actual rate of foreclosures in the region is better than the national average, the online researcher reported.

One in every 144 households in the Richmond area, or 0.70 percent of all households -- a total of 3,549 -- received a foreclosure filing from January through June, the online researcher reported.

The region was ranked at No. 103 of 203 metro areas in the report.

Las Vegas has the worst foreclosure problem in the country. One in every 13 households there, or 7.45 percent of all houses -- a total of 58,691 -- received at least one notice of default, foreclosure sale or repossession in the first half of the year.

Nationally, 1.5 million households -- or one in every 84, nearly 1.2 percent of all households -- struggled with their mortgage payments. The number of U.S. foreclosure filings rose 9.5 percent in the January through June period from the previous six months and 14.7 percent from the same period a year ago.

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/local/article/B-FORE30_20090729-215804/283015/