POSTED: 15:01 MDT Monday, May 14, 2007

by Brad Carlson

The number of U.S. properties entering some stage of the foreclosure process fell by 11 percent from March to April, to 140,711, California-based Bargain Network reported on May 14. Nevertheless, the April figure was the second highest monthly total of 2007, the group said in a statement.

Idaho’s foreclosure total, 569, was down 10 percent from March and ranked 34th nationwide. The state had one foreclosure for every 923 households, compared to the nationwide rate of one per 822 households.

Five states accounted for 55 percent of U.S. foreclosures in April, Bargain Network reported. California had nearly 18 percent, Florida nearly 17 percent, and Texas 7 percent. Colorado and Illinois each accounted for 6 percent of the U.S. total.

Colorado, despite a 22 percent drop in foreclosures from March to April, ranked second in what Bargain Network calls “foreclosure saturation rate” – the state had one foreclosure for every 205 households, more than 16 times the national average.

Single-family homes represented 88 percent of U.S. foreclosures last month. Condos and townhomes accounted for 7 percent. Higher-than-average foreclosure totals for condos and townhomes occurred in Hawaii (29 percent), Florida and Alaska (13 percent each), California, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.