Ala. foreclosures remain high for 2010

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A mortgage research company says foreclosure activity in Alabama remains high above the level of two years earlier.

Data released Thursday by mortgage researcher RealtyTrac shows that last year, there were foreclosure filings on 20,869 properties in the state, or about 1 percent of housing units.

That's a 5 percent rise from 2009 and a 169 percent spike from 2008.

Alabama's foreclosure rate ranks the state among the bottom half of the nation, at No. 33.

Among other southeastern states, Florida and Georgia ranked No. 3 and No. 6, respectively, while Tennessee is No. 23 and Mississippi is No. 45.
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Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews