State Foreclosures Plummet in February

It remains a trend, but the good news is that the foreclosure rate in Connecticut dropped significantly in February, when compared to the previous year.

Connecticut currently has 6,794 properties in foreclosure. When compared with February 2010, the 747 added to the list last month is a 67 percent improvement, according to RealtyTrac, a nationally recognized service that compiles statistics in the real estate industry.

New Haven County led the way in February with 211, while Hartford County had 180 and Fairfield County had 123. The rate dropped sharply from there with just 67 in Litchfield and New London counties, 42 in Windham and 34 in Tolland County.

In Hartford County, Manchester's 22 foreclosures in February was higher than all towns but New Britain, which had 28.

Enfield had 14, Windsor two and East Windsor one.

In Tolland County, Tolland's seven was second only to Coventry's nine. Vernon had four, Mansfield Center two, and Mansfield-Storrs, considered one entity by RealtyTrac, had two.

For a national look, 225,101 additional homes went into foreclosure in the U.S. in February, bringing the year-to-date total to 486,434, according RealtyTrac. That is one of every 577 homes, but down 13.86 percent.

Nationally, the leaders in foreclosures are Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago, Los Angeles and Houston.