Foreclosures in Mansfield Jump Again in November

Mansfield saw an increase in the number of newly-started and completed foreclosures during the month of November, according to numbers released today.

The data, compiled by real estate information firm The Warren Group, had foreclosure petitions, which represent the start of the foreclosure process, increasing in town from two in November 2010 to four in November 2011. Foreclosure deeds, or completed foreclosures, increased from zero to one over the same time period.

Massachusetts saw a 70 percent increase in foreclosure deeds in November, jumping from 418 last November to 714 last month. Petitions, though, fell eight percent, from 1,109 to 1,015.

Warren Group CEO Timothy Warren said in a statement that the completed foreclosures had likely been in the works for some time.

"An increase in foreclosure deeds tells us that the backlog of foreclosures is moving through the process," he said. "The modest decline in petitions could indicate that an improving employment picture is leading to fewer mortgage delinquencies."

Here are the foreclosure statistics for area towns:

• Attleboro saw both its foreclosure petitions (from 15 to 10) and deeds (from six to three) drop substantially from November 2010 to November 2011.
• Dover's foreclosure petitions remained at zero for November, while its deeds increased from zero in November 2010 to one last month.
• Easton saw its foreclosure petitions fall from four to two year-over-year, while deeds dropped from three to zero.
• Foxborough's November foreclosure petitions jumpred from two to five, while deeds were steady at one.
• Medfield had its November foreclosure petitions and deeds remain steady at zero.
• Norfolk's foreclosure petitions went up from one to three year-over-year, while deeds increased from zero to one.
• Norton had its foreclosure petitions fall from seven last year to two last month, while deeds were up slightly, from zero to one.
• Norwood saw its foreclosure petitions fall from two to one, while deeds were up from one to three.
• Plainville's November foreclosure petitions were up from zero to one year-over-year, while deeds climbed from zero to two.
• Sharon had its foreclosure petitions fall from two in November 2010 to one in November 2011, while deeds were steady at zero for both months.
• Stoughton 's November foreclosure petitions increased from two to five from last year to last month, while deeds fell from four to three.