Like real estate, it appears that foreclosure activity is a local phenomenon, too.

As reported by RealtyTrac.com, more than half of all foreclosure-related activity in 2009 came from just 4 states:

1. California
2. Florida
3. Arizona
4. Illinois

More than 1.4 million filings made in 2009 are attributed to the above states. Furthermore, each ranks in the Top 10 for 2009 Foreclosures Per Capita.

The other states are Nevada, Utah, Georgia, Idaho, Michigan and Colorado.

Versus 2008, foreclosures are up 21 percent nationwide and that’s a big number, but a deeper look at RealtyTrac’s annual reports reveals a more positive undertone on the housing market.

1. 40 states fell below the national Foreclosures Per Capita average in 2009
2. Foreclosure activity fell on an annual basis in 10 states as compared to 2008

Foreclosures are still prevalent, though, and buying homes in foreclosure in Cincinnati continues to be big business.  First-time buyers, move-up buyers, and real estate investors each are bidding aggressively.

Distressed homes account for one-third of home resale activity, according to an industry trade group.

That said, buying foreclosures can be tricky.

First, properties are often sold “as-is” and the cost of repairs may unwind the home’s status as a “value buy”.  Furthermore, a lender may require specific fixes to be made prior to closing and that, too, costs money.

Second, buying a foreclosed home in Illinois isn’t as streamlined as buying a “normal” home. Closing on a foreclosure can be a 120-day process or longer. A 4-month time-frame may not fit your schedule.

And, third, finding foreclosures can be difficult. Despite the growth in foreclosure search engines, it still takes a good real estate agent to uncover the best homes at the best prices.

Read the complete foreclosure report and take a peek at RealtyTrac’s foreclosure heat maps.  If you like what you see, talk to your real estate agent about what to do next.

There’s still good deals in the foreclosure market — you just have to know where to find them

Since peaking in July 2009, national foreclosure activity has dropped through 4 consecutive months. 

On a month-to-month basis, November’s foreclosure activity fell another 8 percent. 

However, national foreclosure activity continues to be dominated by a minority of states.

As reported by RealtyTrac.com, more than half of November’s foreclosure-related activity sourced from just 4 states:

1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan

These are the same 4 states that topped October’s foreclosure activity despite three of them posting month-to-month declines last month.

The remaining Top 10 states in terms of total foreclosure activity include Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey.

If you’ve been actively looking at REO lately, you’ve likely noticed that true bargains are harder to find.  This is because buyers of all types — first-timers, move-ups, and investors — are purchasing bank-owned homes aggressively and getting better at identifying the “best ones”.

But just because supplies are dwindling doesn’t mean you should just jump in.  Buying foreclosures isn’t for everyone for two very strong reasons:

1. Homes are often sold as-is and may have “issues”
2. The closing process can be unpredictable

Therefore, if you’re thinking of buying a foreclosed home, be sure to talk with your real estate agent about potential problem before going under contract.  Better too soon than too late.

There are still good deals in the foreclosure market, but based on November’s data, they may not last through the winter.  “Distressed home” sales now account for 30 percent of home resale activity.

Since peaking in July 2009, national foreclosure activity has dropped through 4 consecutive months. 

On a month-to-month basis, November’s foreclosure activity fell another 8 percent. 

However, national foreclosure activity continues to be dominated by a minority of states.

As reported by RealtyTrac.com, more than half of November’s foreclosure-related activity sourced from just 4 states:

1. California
2. Florida
3. Illinois
4. Michigan

These are the same 4 states that topped October’s foreclosure activity despite three of them posting month-to-month declines last month.

The remaining Top 10 states in terms of total foreclosure activity include Arizona, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Nevada and New Jersey.

If you’ve been actively looking at REO in Mason lately, you’ve likely noticed that true bargains are harder to find.  This is because buyers of all types — first-timers, move-ups, and investors — are purchasing bank-owned homes aggressively and getting better at identifying the “best ones”.

But just because supplies are dwindling doesn’t mean you should just jump in.  Buying foreclosures isn’t for everyone for two very strong reasons:

1. Homes are often sold as-is and may have “issues”
2. The closing process can be unpredictable

Therefore, if you’re thinking of buying a foreclosed home, be sure to talk with your real estate agent about potential problem before going under contract.  Better too soon than too late.

There are still good deals in the foreclosure market, but based on November’s data, they may not last through the winter.  “Distressed home” sales now account for 30 percent of home resale activity.