With continued high unemployment and depressed home prices, expect to see foreclosures continue to rise in 2010. A record 3 million U.S. homes are projected to be repossessed by lenders this year.

In 2009, there were 2.8 million foreclosures according to RealtyTrac and 4.5 million foreclosure filings ares projected for this year. There were 3.96 million filings in 2009.

Many are projecting this year to be the peak in the foreclosure wave. Despite efforts by lenders and pressure by the government, initiatives to keep people in their homes has failed.

As reported previoulsy, lenders have permanently modified such a small number of home mortgages, that the total is less than 1% of the 4 million loans targeted under the Obama administration’s foreclosure prevention plan through November, the U.S. Treasury Department said last month.

Fewer than half of the 3.2 million homeowners estimated as eligible for mortgage relief by the Treasury actually qualify, according to Herb Allison, assistant secretary for financial stability.

Besides pressuring lenders to do more loan modifications or accept short sales, the government has also attempted to stimulate the housing market with the extension of the $8,000 tax credit and the expansion for repeat home buyers worth a $6,500 tax credit.

This tax credit is due to expire on April 30th, which is about the same time that it in anticipated that the Fed will run out of funds to continue their purchase of mortgage bonds (which has held mortgage rates at very attractive, historically low levels). This is likely to add additional pressure to the market.

Georgia had the seventh-highest rate in the US at 2.68 percent of households receiving a foreclosure filing, which equated to 106,110 filings.

If you’re delinquent on your mortgage payments, contact us today to discuss alternatives to foreclosure. We are a team of Certified Distressed Property Experts and are trained to assist you with your needs.

Georgia’s unemployment remains higher than the national average of 9.7 percent for the 22nd consecutive month.  The state’s current unemployment rate is 10.2 percent.  Last year in August the state’s rate was 6.4 percent.

According to the Georgia Department of Labor, Georgia’s work force has shrunk by 79,039 to 4.74 million people since last December.  The number of unemployed workers has doubled to 481,488 from 244,962.  The number of jobs has declined by 314,100 to 3.87 million.

Health care and private educational services improved, adding a combined 13,400 jobs.

Until the unemployment rate starts to improve we will continue to see a plethora of short sales, foreclosures, and REOs.  With mortgage rates extremely low and homeowner’s and bank’s willing to negotiate now is the time to purchase a home for investment purposes as well as primary residence.  Contact us if you would like to learn more about the available distressed homes on the market.