Foreclosure filings increased in February

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Despite various foreclosure prevention efforts and moratoriums, national foreclosure filings increased 6% in February from January, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties. The 290,631 default and auction sale notices and bank repossessions last month represented a nearly 30% increase from February 2008.

One in every 440 U.S. housing units saw a foreclosure filing in February. The numbers in states with the top foreclosure rates were Nevada, 1 in 70; Arizona, 1 in 147; and California, 1 in 165.

Based on total number, foreclosure filings were the highest in California in February at 80,775 -- up 5% from January and up 51% from the previous February.

In metropolitan areas, Las Vegas took the honors with filings reported on 1 in every 60 housing units. California cities in the top 10:

No. 3: Stockton, 1 in 67 housing units
No. 4: Modesto, 1 in 68
No. 5: Merced, 1 in 74
No. 6: Riverside-San Bernardino, 1 in 80
No. 7: Bakersfield, 1 in 85
No. 10: Vallejo-Fairfield, 1 in 111

-- Lauren Beale

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