Foreclosures Down in Wrentham, State in February

Both Wrentham and the state saw declines in both foreclosure deeds and petitions over the month of February.

The data, compiled by real estate information firm The Warren Group, had foreclosure petitions, which start the foreclosure process, falling in Wrentham from three last year to two in February. Foreclosure deeds, which represent completed foreclosures, dropped from two to zero over the same time period.

The number of completed foreclosures fell by 44 percent in Massachusetts, from 917 last year to 515 in February.  The state's foreclosure deeds declined as well, from 2,122 to 694.

Warren Group CEO Timothy Warren said in a statement, though, the changes may be largely the result of a changing foreclosure process.

"It demonstrates a new 'go slow' attitude among lenders and a welcome relief for homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgages," he said in a statement. "However, given the continuing high levels of unemployment and the high rates of delinquency on mortgage payments, I'm afraid we'll be dealing with foreclosure issues for many more months."

"Only when we see the values of homes rise again will I have confidence that we have turned the corner," he added.

Here are the foreclosure statistics for area towns:

• In Dover, foreclosure petitions fell from two to one in February. The town had no completed foreclosures in February 2010 or 2011.
• Easton's foreclosure petitions fell from four to two in February, and deeds dropped from two to zero.
• Foxboro saw its February foreclosure petitions decline from eight to one. Deeds in the town remained steady at two.
• In Mansfield, foreclosure petitions fell from six in February 2010 to two this year. There were no foreclosure deeds issued in either month.
• Medfield's foreclosure petitions fell from three to one in February, and its deeds dropped from one to zero.
• Norfolk's foreclosure petitions are down for the month, from two to one. Deeds in town fell from two to zero in February.
• Norton's foreclosure petitions fell from five to zero in February, with deeds falling from two to one.
• Foreclosure petitions in Norwood fell from seven to three year-over-year, with deeds increasing from four to six.
• Plainville foreclosure petitions increased year-over-year, from one to four, with deeds remaining steady at zero.
• Sharon had one foreclosure petition in both February 2010 and 2011. The town had an increase in foreclosure deeds, from zero to one.
• Stoughton's foreclosure petitions fell from four to one in February, with foreclosure deeds dropping from six to zero.