Foreclosure Petitions Up in Medfield for September

Medfield saw an increase in foreclosure petitions, while deeds remained steady for the month of September, according to data released today.

The data, compiled by real estate information firm The Warren Group, showed that foreclosure petitions (which represent newly started foreclosures) climbed from zero in September 2010 to two last month. Foreclosure deeds, or completed foreclosures, remained at zero over the same time period.

The state, however, saw a drop in both petitions and deeds. Foreclosures fell from 2,358 last September to 1,164 last month (a 51 percent drop), while deeds declined from 890 to 737.

Group CEO Timothy Warren, though, said in a statement that foreclosure activity has accelerated in 2011.

"While year-over-year foreclosure activity dropped, we did see a higher level in third quarter than we saw in the earlier quarters this year. A total of 4,002 petitions were filed in the third quarter, up significantly from 2,535 and 2,880 in the first and second quarters, respectively," he said. "This indicates banks are moving more aggressively against borrowers who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments."

Here are the foreclosure statistics for area towns:

• Dover's foreclosure petitions fell from one in September 2010 to zero last month, while deeds remained steady at zero.
• Easton had its September foreclosure petitions fall from nine to five year-over-year, while deeds dropped from three to one.
• Foxborough saw foreclosure petitions decline from three to one, while no deeds were filed for either September 2010 or September 2011.
• Mansfield's September foreclosure petitions increased from three to five, but deeds dropped from four to one.
• Norfolk's September petitions fell from five to one, and its deeds declined from two to zero.
• Norton saw decreases in both its petitions (six to three) and deeds (five to two) filed in the month of September.
• Norwood had its foreclosure petitions decline, from five to one, while deeds were steady at zero.
• Plainville's September petitions fell from three to two, but deeds jumped from zero to one.
• Sharon's foreclosure petitions fell steeply in September (from 10 last year to two last month), while deeds increased slightly (from one to two)
• Stoughton's September petitions dropped from 12 to nine, and its deeds declined, from two to one.