The number of homeowners stung by the dramatic decline in the US housing market jumped last month as foreclosure filings grew by more than 50 percent compared with the same month a year ago, according to data released Thursday. Nationwide, more than 272,000 homes received at least one foreclosure-related notice in July, up 55 percent from about 175,000 in the same month last year and up 8 percent from June, RealtyTrac Inc. said. That means one in every 464 U.S. households received a foreclosure filing last month. More than 77,000 properties were repossessed by lenders nationwide in July, the company said. Nevada, California, Florida, Arizona, Ohio, Georgia and Michigan had the highest foreclosure rates. Foreclosure filings increased from a year earlier in all but eight states. Weak housing sales, falling home values, tighter mortgage lending criteria and a slowing economy has left homeowners with few options to avoid foreclosure.
