REAL ESTATE

California Foreclosures Ease in February: Lending institutions moved to foreclose on 9,836 homes, down 9.4% from January’s 10,851 and up 6.2% from 9,263 in February a year ago, Dataquick Information Systems reported. With monthly counts between 9,000 and 11,000 for most of the past two years, California foreclosure activity has remained very stable. The foreclosure problem hit homes in Southern California first, and since has moved to the Central Valley and Bay Area. While year-over-year foreclosure numbers are declining in Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties, Southern California’s problem is still relatively high when measured against sales and financing volume.