Home Sales Up, Foreclosures Down In Wrentham

The town of Wrentham saw an increase in home sales and a decrease in foreclosures started during November, according to recently released numbers.

The data, compiled by real estate information firm The Warren Group, showed that Wrentham's home sales were up to 11 last month, as compared to six in Nov. 2009. For the year to date, sales have increased by two, from 80 last year to 82 in 2010.

Home sales did not fare as well statewide, however, dropping by 29 percent in November year-over-year. According to Warren Group numbers, this marks the fifth straight month of year-over-year sales declines for Massachusetts.

Group CEO Timothy Warren said in a statement that last year's home sale numbers were somewhat inflated.

"In November 2009, home sales were stimulated by the deadline to receive the first-time home buyer tax credit, making comparisons to this year unfavorable," he said. "However, home sales last month were higher than November 2008, when only 2,611 homes were sold."

In Wrentham, foreclosure petitions, which begin the foreclosure process, declined year-over-year, from four last November to one last month. For the year to date, petitions have decreased by 35 percent, from 42 to 27.

Foreclosure deeds, which represent completed foreclosures, remained steady at zero. Nineteen foreclosure deeds have been issued so far this year in town, a substantial increase from the two issued at this point last year.

The state also saw decreases in foreclosure deeds and petitions, with the group claiming November saw the lowest levels of foreclosure activity this year.

Warren said in a statement that the foreclosure decline could at least be partly attributed to additional oversight.

"I predicted last month that Massachusetts was likely to see a continuing decrease in foreclosure starts due to delays caused by robo-signing and banks temporarily suspending foreclosure activity," he said. "With federal and state governments taking an even closer look at how banks are going about the foreclosure process, I suspect that petitions to foreclose will remain at low levels."

Here are the housing statistics for area towns:

• In Dover, foreclosure petitions remained steady at zero, and are down 52 percent, from 17 in 2009 to eight this year. Foreclosure deeds were steady at zero, but have jumped from zero last year to three so far this year.
• Dover's home sales fell from four to three year-over-year, but are up from 37 to 53 for the year to date.
• Easton's foreclosure petitions dropped from seven in November 2009 to four last month, but have increased from 65 to 70 so far this year. The town's foreclosure deeds increased from two to three last month, and have jumped from 16 to 33 for the year to date.
• Easton's home sales slipped from 20 to 12 year-over-year, but have jumped from 141 to 160 for the year to date.
• Mansfield saw its foreclosure petitions fall from three last November to two last month, but they have increased from 57 to 63 this year. The town's foreclosure deeds so far have increased from 12 in 2009 to 27 this year.
• Mansfield's home sales fell from 15 last November to 14 last month. Year to date sales remained steady at 116.
• Medfield's foreclosure petitions in November dropped from two to zero, but are up for the year, from 19 t0 22. The town's foreclosure deeds remained steady at zero for the month, but are up from two to five for the year.
• Medfield's home sales increased slightly in November, from six to seven, and are up a bit for the year, from 114 to 122.
• Norfolk's foreclosure petitions are down for the month (three to one) and the year (25 to 24). Deeds in town remained steady at zero for the month, but have doubled, from four to eight, for the year.
• Norfolk saw its home sales fall sharply for November, from 15 to two. Year to date sales are up slightly, though, from 82 to 83.
• Norton's foreclosure petitions increased somewhat in November, from six to seven, but are down overall for the year, 80 to 77. Foreclosure deeds fell from one to zero for the month, but are up, 27 to 37, for the year.
• Norton saw its home sales drop from 10 to eight in November, and year-to-date sales fell from 128 to 108.
• Norwood's foreclosure petitions fell from five to two in November, but are up, 71 to 72,  for the year to date. Foreclosure deeds increased from zero to one in November, and are up from 15 to 25 for the year to date.
• Norwood saw its home sales jump from 12 in November 2009 to 16 last month, and the numbers are up for the year, from 127 to 163.
• Plainville foreclosure petitions for November fell from one to zero, but are up for the year, from 21 to 22. Deeds were steady at zero for the month, and are down, from seven to five, for the year.
• Plainville's home sales felll from six to one in November, but are up, 44 to 49, for the year to date.
• Sharon foreclosure petitions dropped from three to two year-over-year for November, but are up for the year to date, from 33 to 46. Foreclosure deeds fell from one to zero in November, and are steady at nine for the year to date.
• Sharon home sales fell from 19 to four for the month of November, and are down from 172 to 150 for the year.
• Stoughton's foreclosure petitions fell from seven to two in November, and are down for the year, 129 to 107. Deeds jumped for the month, from zero to four, but are down year-to-date, 40 to 36.
• Stoughton home sales dropped sharply in November, from 19 to 10, and have slipped this year, going form 185 to 151.