Last year's spike in local foreclosure sales was second largest among metro areas

There was more discouraging news on the foreclosure front this week for the Colorado Springs area.

Of the state’s 12 most populous counties, El Paso County saw the second biggest percentage increase last year in properties that were sold to banks, lenders and investors after falling into foreclosure, according to a report by the Colorado Division of Housing.

Local foreclosure sales totaled 2,419 in 2009, an 11.5 percent increase over the previous year. Only Mesa County’s 223.4 percent jump was bigger; that area, which includes Grand Junction, has been hard hit by a downturn in its energy industry.

Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson counties all saw declines in their foreclosure sales in 2009. While not one of the state’s biggest areas, Teller County foreclosure sales totaled 174 last year, up 37 percent over 2008.

Statewide, foreclosure sales totaled 20,437 in 2009, a 4.1 percent drop from the previous year.

Another way of measuring the foreclosure problem is the number of foreclosure sales per household. El Paso County had one sale per 92 households, which was the 18th highest rate among the state’s 64 counties.

Denver County was slightly worse with one sale per 85 households; San Juan County had the worst ranking last year with one sale per 39 households. Teller County had one sale per 51 households. Statewide, the rate was one sale per 94 households.

When it comes to foreclosure filings, which is the start of the process that can lead to the forced sale of a home, El Paso County’s 5,470 filings were up 18.9 percent in 2009 compared with the previous year, according to the Housing Division. That put El Paso County in the middle of the pack among the 12 biggest counties.

Teller County had 313 foreclosure filings in 2009, up 14.7 percent from the previous year.

Statewide, filings totaled 46,394 last year, an 18 percent jump from 2008.

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