Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

June 21, 2012

Foreclosure Starts Continue Steep Climb

Banks filed 1,724 petitions to foreclose on Massachusetts homes in May, up from 699 a year ago, according to the Warren Group.

A national, $25-billion settlement between banks and state attorneys general will help continue the trend, the group predicted. The settlement is expected to jumpstart foreclosures that had been slowed while banks reviewed their documentation procedures last year.

Through May of this year, 7,822 petitions have been filed, an increase of 77 percent over the same period in 2011.

"Foreclosures are expected to rise throughout this year," said Cory S. Hopkins, editorial director of the Warren Group. "We're seeing banks acting more aggressively in resuming foreclosures that were put on hold in 2011."

Hopkins said the distressed properties need to be cleared from lender's books before the housing market can return to full health.

Image credit: freedigitalphotos.net

Read more

Bay State Foreclosure Numbers Reverse

Sign up for Enews

WBJ Web Partners

0 Comments

Order a PDF