By Lauren Ratcliffe
lratcliffe@scbiznews.com
Published Aug. 9, 2012

July foreclosure activity nationwide is down 10% over last year, but South Carolina’s foreclosure activity jumped 33%, according to data released by RealtyTrac.

South Carolina reported one in every 536 homes under foreclosure in July — the ninth highest rate in the country, the national foreclosure tracking firm said.

Lexington County reported the highest foreclosure rate in the state, with one in every 228 homes under foreclosure proceedings.

Nationally, 191,925 properties, or one in every 686 homes, were under foreclosure.

“U.S. foreclosure activity continued its uneven descent in July as the overall numbers declined on an annual basis for the 22nd straight month, but properties starting the foreclosure process increased on an annual basis for the third straight month,” said Daren Blomquist, vice president of RealtyTrac. “Recent foreclosure activity patterns vary significantly from state to state, often hinging on the level of dysfunction that exists in each state’s foreclosure process.”

Foreclosure starts were filed on more than 98,000 properties in July, a 6%  increase from a year ago. Foreclosure starts increased annually in 27 out of 50 states.

S.C. foreclosure activity in July

SOURCE: RealtyTrac