Published In

Metropolitan Knowledge Network

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

3-2010

Subjects

Foreclosure -- Oregon -- Portland Metropolitan Area, Neighborhood planning -- Oregon -- Portland

Abstract

Foreclosure activity is an important indicator of community and neighborhood health and the economic viability of households. In the Portland region, foreclosure activity is comparable to many areas of the United States, with significant segments of the population struggling to make their mortgage payments.

The foreclosure crisis continues to unfold in the United States. In 2009, RealtyTrac reported 3.9 million foreclosure filings on 2.8 million properties in the U.S., up 21 percent from the previous year. Foreclosure filings include default notices, scheduled foreclosure auctions and bank reversions. About two percent of all U.S. housing units received at least one foreclosure notice in 2009. California, Florida, Arizona and Illinois accounted for more than 50 percent of the 2009 foreclosure filings. In 2009, Oregon had the 11th highest rate of foreclosures, with one foreclosure filing for every 47 housing units. Between 2008 and 2009, Oregon filings increased 89 percent. Compared with 2007, foreclosure filings in 2009 increased by 303 percent.

While still high, monthly counts of pre-foreclosure notices in the Portland Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) have been steadily declining since late 2008. However, according to RealtyTrac data, counts of bank reversions in the Portland MSA continue to climb and reached near peak levels in October 2009 as default grace periods elapsed.

This briefing sheet is designed to stimulate discussion and invite feedback regarding the usefulness of the information for understanding the extent of the foreclosure problem, identifying neighborhoods at risk of widespread problems due to foreclosures, understanding neighborhood change, and targeting intervention.

Description

Appeared in Metropolitan Knowledge Network, a production of the Institute of Metropolitan Studies and the Population Research Center at Portland State University.

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/15996

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