Foreclosure petition filings rise less sharply in April

Foreclosure petitions in Massachusetts were 29.4 percent higher in April 2015 compared with April 2014, the smallest increase in more than a year, according to a report Tuesday from The Warren Group.

Lenders filed 958 petitions to foreclose in April compared with 740 filings a year earlier. It was the smallest percentage increase since February 2014, when petition filings were down 49 percent.

"Petition activity recorded a less-dramatic increase in April, compared with the steep increases we've seen in the past several months," said Timothy M. Warren Jr., CEO of The Warren Group. "Hopefully, the trend will continue, and we will see more and more lenders finally clearing away those longtime delinquent mortgages."

For the year to date through April, petitions increased by 61 percent with 3,552 filings recorded, compared with 2,203 during January to April last year.

Statewide, foreclosure deeds rose by 53.7 percent in April, with 352 deeds filed compared with 229 filings in April 2014, The Warren Group reported. A total of 1,279 deeds were filed from January to April this year, an 8 percent increase from the 1,185 deeds filed in the same time period last year. Deeds represent completed foreclosures.

Petitions mark the first step in the foreclosure process, whereas deeds represent completed foreclosures.

Foreclosure petitions in Massachusetts were 29.4 percent higher in April 2015 compared with April 2014, the smallest increase in more than a year, according to a report Tuesday from The Warren Group.

Lenders filed 958 petitions to foreclose in April compared with 740 filings a year earlier. It was the smallest percentage increase since February 2014, when petition filings were down 49 percent.

For the year to date through April, petitions increased by 61 percent with 3,552 filings recorded, compared with 2,203 during January to April last year.

Petitions mark the first step in the foreclosure process, whereas deeds represent completed foreclosures.