According to the latest data from Foreclosure Radar, foreclosure filings in California dropped to levels not seen since since late 2008 when governmental intervention temporary slowed the foreclosure filing process. Notice of Default filings dropped 12.8 percent month-over-month and Notice of Trustee Sale filings fell 12.5 percent from the prior month. The foreclosure filing percentage decreases are more moderate when adjusted on an average daily basis due to the fewer filing and trustee sale days in February with a 3.1 percent drop for Notice of Default filings and a 2.8 percent decline for Notice of Trustee Sale filings. On a year-over-year basis foreclosure filings were down as well, with Notice of Default filings down 29.6 percent and Notice of Trustee Sale filings falling 17.0 percent from February 2010. Acivity on the courthouse steps slowed with fewer sales leading to a 24.5 percent decrease in sales Back to Bank and a 20.3 percent drop in properties purchased by Third Parties, typically investors. For the first time, Third Party investors saw a drop in the average Time to Resell a property, down 3.1 percent to 156 days.

Same trend can be seen in Santa Clara County. Below is the Santa Clara County foreclosure filing chart showing the foreclosure filing numbers in Santa Clara county since 2008. Foreclosure Filings are Notice of Default filings which are the first step in the foreclosure process. Notice of Trustee Sale filings set the date and time of an auction, and serve as the homeowner’s final notice before sale.

Santa Clara County Foreclosure Filing Trend