New Foreclosures Up in Wrentham in January

The town of Wrentham saw a substantial increase in new foreclosures in January, according to data released Thursday.

The numbers, compiled by real estate information firm The Warren Group, had foreclosure petitions, which represent newly started foreclosures, at three in January, up from zero in January 2011. Foreclosure deeds, which represent completed foreclosures, were steady at one.

The state saw large increases in both petitions and deeds. Foreclosure petitions increase by more than 68 percent, from 793 in January 2011 to 1,333 in January 2012. Deeds were up from 529 to 662 over the same timeframe.

Group CEO Timothy Warren said in a statement that the foreclosure numbers could be a lagging indicator.

"Banks were slow to initiate foreclosure petitions in much of 2011, so now we are seeing the backlog of foreclosures work through the system," he said. "The increase doesn't necessarily indicate a declining economy, but rather a step toward seeing a clear picture of the market." 

Here are the foreclosure statistics for area towns:

• Attleboro had its January foreclosure petitions increase from eight to 17 year-over-year, while deeds were up from two to six.
• Dover's foreclosure petitions went up from one in January 2011 to two in January 2012. Deeds increased from zero to two.
• Easton had its foreclosure petitions rise from two to nine, while deeds were up from zero to one.
• Foxborough's January petitions were up from zero to two from 2011 to 2012, while deeds increased from zero to three.
• Mansfield's January foreclosure petitions doubled (from one to two), while deeds fell from two to zero.
• In Medfield, foreclosure petitions were up from zero to two, but deeds fell from two to zero.
• Norfolk had its foreclosure petitions go up from zero to three, while deeds were steady at zero.
• Norton's January foreclosure petitions doubled, going from three to six, while deeds were steady at one.
• Norwood saw its foreclosure petitions climb from three to seven, though deeds were down from two to one.
• Plainville's January foreclosure petitions were up by a third, from two to three. Deeds were up from zero to two.
• Sharon had its foreclosure petitions go up from zero to one in January, and deeds increased from zero to two.
• Stoughton saw its foreclosure petitions jump from two to six, and deeds fell by half, from two to one.