The number of foreclosure proceedings started against California homeowners fell slightly in the April-through-June period compared with the prior three months, but remained higher than last year. The dip from earlier this year occurred as lenders and their loan servicers took time to revise procedures and priorities in an environment of continuing home price depreciation, economic distress and mortgage defaults, a real estate information service reported.
Lenders sent out a total of 124,562 default notices during the second quarter (April through June). That was down 8.0 percent from the prior quarter's record 135,431 default notices, and up 2.4 percent from 121,673 in second quarter 2008, according to MDA DataQuick.
"There is a perception that the housing market is dragging along bottom, that it probably won't get much worse, and that the lenders need to get serious about processing the backlog of delinquencies, either with work-outs or foreclosure. We're hearing that some lenders and servicers are doing just that, hiring more people to do the necessary paperwork. That means the foreclosure numbers will probably shoot back up during the third quarter," said John Walsh, DataQuick president. (I'll believe it when I see it!)
While most first quarter 2009 foreclosure activity was still concentrated in affordable inland communities, there were signs that the foreclosure problem was intensifying in more expensive areas. The state's most affordable sub-markets, which represent 25 percent of the state's housing stock, accounted for more than 52.0 percent of all default activity in 2008. In first quarter 2009 it fell to 47.5 percent, and last quarter it dipped to 45.0 percent.
On primary mortgages, California homeowners were a median five months behind on their payments when the lender filed the notice of default. The borrowers owed a median $12,911 on a median $345,000 mortgage.
Although 124,555 default notices were filed last quarter, they involved 122,829 homes because some borrowers were in default on multiple loans (e.g. a primary mortgage and a line of credit). Multiple default recordings on the same home are trending down, DataQuick reported.
Mortgages were least likely to go into default in San Francisco, Marin and San Mateo counties -- the historical norm. The probability was highest in Merced, Riverside, and Madera counties.
Trustees Deeds recorded, or the actual loss of a home to foreclosure, totaled 45,667 during the second quarter. That's up 4.7 percent from 43,620 for the prior quarter, and down 27.9 percent from 63,316 for second-quarter 2008. They reached a record 79,511 during last year's third quarter before dropping because of a new state law that slowed the entire foreclosure process and lenders' temporary policy changes (e.g. a temporary foreclosure moratorium).
In the last real estate cycle, Trustees Deeds peaked at 15,418 in third-quarter 1996. The state's all-time low was 637 in the second quarter of 2005, MDA DataQuick reported.
Notices of Default (first step in foreclosure process)
houses and condos
| County/Region | 2008Q2 | 2009Q2 | Yr/Yr% |
| | |||
| Los Angeles | 21,632 | 24,622 | 13.8% |
| Orange | 7,564 | 8,261 | 9.2% |
| San Diego | 9,519 | 9,866 | 3.6% |
| Riverside | 14,974 | 14,302 | -4.5% |
| San Bernardino | 11,817 | 10,852 | -8.2% |
Trustees Deeds Recorded ( homes were lost to foreclosure)
houses and condos
| County/Region | 2008Q2 | 2009Q2 | Yr/Yr% |
| Los Angeles | 9,609 | 6,706 | -30.2% |
| Orange | 3,242 | 1,906 | -41.2% |
| San Diego | 4,807 | 3,518 | -26.8% |
| Riverside | 8,814 | 5,726 | -35.0% |
| San Bernardino | 6,251 | 4,769 | -23.7% |