Montana reported 40 properties with foreclosure filings in October, a 5 percent decrease from the previous month, and 73 percent below the level reported for October 2007, according to the latest RealtyTrac® U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. “Montana foreclosures are down both in October and from this time last year,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. “Statistics show that the state’s unemployment rate has been below the national average for quite some time now. This is likely helping to keep foreclosures here relatively low.” Complete Story

More than 1.2 million foreclosure filings were reported nationwide during 2006, up 42 percent from 2005 and a foreclosure rate of one foreclosure filing for every 92 U.S. households. “While foreclosures are not at historically high levels, a 42 percent year-over-year increase is certainly noteworthy,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac. “The increase in the number of properties in foreclosure was driven partly by the general slowing of overall housing sales, and partly by the impact of monthly mortgage payments increasing dramatically for homeowners who held some of the riskier types of adjustable rate and sub-prime mortgages. Complete Story