Mortgage Defaulters Increase in Tennessee

September 16th, 2008

The latest report from the banking industry says that a large number of more homeowners in Tennessee have become defaulters of real estate mortgage. However the rate of foreclosure homes in Tennessee has a bit edged-up. The number of mortgage defaulters that dipped down in winter rose in the second quarter by about 10 percent. The Mortgage Bankers Association based in Washington, D.C. has reported that although several people have tried to keep up with their payments, the rate of foreclosures in Tennessee rose up by only a percent.

Compared to the nation, which saw a rise of about 11 percent, the rate of foreclosures in Tennessee is quite low. By June-end, the mortgages that were in foreclosure throughout the nation stood at 2.75 percent. The growth was mainly driven by the increases in Florida and California. The condition in Middle Tennessee is slightly better according to banking analyst Jeff Davis. Speaking about the better condition of Middle Tennessee, he said, “Not dramatically. Just a little bit better.”

Jay Brinkmann, chief economist of the Mortgage Bankers Association has said:

“Because of the sheer size of California and Florida, an improvement in the national numbers … is unlikely until we see some turnaround in those two states”

History tells that Tennessee had once the highest rate of foreclosures in the country. It owns a 32nd position in foreclosures now. The foreclosure rate in Tennessee is far behind that of the states in the Midwest and Northeast and also a few neighboring states like Mississippi, Georgia, and Kentucky.

There has been a rise of two-hundredths of a percentage point to 1.52 percent in Tennessee’s rate of foreclosure. President of the Tennessee Mortgage Bankers Association Scott Ractliffe has said, “While the numbers have increased, it’s not anything that’s alarming,” Although the rate of foreclosure is low in the state, but the homeowners are finding it difficult to make their mortgage payments. The worst are the condition of the borrowers of subprime mortgages who got loans despite having low incomes and weak credit structure. They bought their homes during the up market condition in the real estate. Now, the situation has become tough for them.

Jeff Davis has said

“There were individuals who got access to credit who should never have gotten access to credit. The neighbor with a 30-year mortgage, they’re not at risk if he or she has a job.”

The percentage of borrowers that were behind on their payment by a month increased to almost 7.7 percent. This is more than the national average that stood at 6.2 percent at the close of the quarter.