Foreclosure Activity Picks up in Riverside County

RIVERSIDE - A greater number of properties slipping into foreclosure last month in Riverside County pushed the local foreclosure rate back into the top 20 statewide, a real estate tracking firm reported today.

A total 1,585 mortgage default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions were recorded countywide in May, translating to 1 in 501 households in some stage of foreclosure, according to Irvine-based RealtyTrac.

Riverside County ranked No. 15 in foreclosure activity in California last month -- up from No. 21 in April. Neighboring San Bernardino County ranked No. 14.

However, all of the top 10 counties were concentrated in Northern California. Data showed Lassen County was at No. 1, with 1 in 182 households in foreclosure there.

In Riverside County, the number of foreclosure filings was up 13 percent from April -- but down 64 percent compared to a year ago, figures showed.

Nationally, 148,054 properties fell into foreclosure in May, a 2 percent increase from April but 23 percent less than the same time a year ago, according to RealtyTrac.

California ranked No. 11 in nationwide foreclosure activity in May, with 17,069 properties going into default, or 1 in 799, according to RealtyTrac. The figure was 6 percent above the number of filings in April but 60 percent below a year ago.

Florida had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation, with 1 in 302 households in default last month.