Mortgage Performance Strengthened in Third Quarter: OCC

The number of homes in foreclosure fell sharply in the third quarter as fewer and fewer borrowers fell behind on their mortgages, according to a report released Monday by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

More than 91% of mortgages were current and performing at the end of the third quarter, compared with 88.6% in the same period a year ago. Mortgages that were 60 days or more past due or more than 30 days past due and held by bankrupt borrowers fell to 3.6%, down from 4.4% during the same period in 2012.

Early-stage delinquencies — defined as mortgages between 30 and 59 days past due — also declined. They fell to 2.6%, down from 3.1% in the third quarter of 2012.

The number of homes in foreclosure fell to 604,763, down 48% from the same period a year ago. The number of completed foreclosures dipped to 82,841, a 28% decrease year-to-year. Brightening economic conditions, foreclosure prevention efforts and loan transfers all played a role in reducing the number of Americans who lost their homes, according to the report.

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