The feeling is that foreclosures are subsiding. The incredible increase in foreclosure activity that hit the United States hard over the past couple of years was a huge catalyst for falling home prices, as well as a staggering hit to the real estate market as a whole. The decrease in foreclosures for the end of 2009 that has been reported is good news for all. As foreclosures disappear real estate values will be less affected.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported on Friday that there was a decrease in foreclosure applications for the last quarter of 2009. This was particularly good news considering the fourth quarter typically sees a rise in foreclosures due to heating costs, according to the MBA.

While foreclosures will still be coming the decrease appears to make the problem improving or, at the very least, not getting worse. The nation’s employment numbers need to improve before we are out of the woods but slowly and steadily we are climbing out of the recession and real estate is taking baby steps toward a solid recovery.

Click here to read the full report from the MBA.

Foreclosures are expected to subside in the coming year

The latest data released by UFA L.L.C., a firm located in Ann Arbor Michigan that researches mortgage activity, states that foreclosures are expected to decrease in the next year.  After four years on the rise there is no doubt that it will be nice to see foreclosures start to subside.

Improvements in the foreclosure arena are seen linked to tighter lending practices, home prices stabilizing, and an improving economy.  The one element working against foreclosures is the increasing unemployment which will leave some without the ability to make their mortgage payments.

The onslaught of no-doc loans and inflated home prices led to four years of increasing foreclosures.  The decline of real estate values is largely attributed to an elevated rate of foreclosures.  A decrease in foreclosures will be a welcome sign for a real estate market that has seen better times.
Click here to read an article at Business Week about foreclosure rates.