As the value of homes throughout the country continues to trend upward, the number of foreclosures is steadily decreasing.
In September, just 46,000 foreclosures were completed nationally, down 33 percent from a year ago and down more than 60 percent from the peak in 2010, according to a new report from CoreLogic, which tracks property data.
Related: The Foreclosure Nightmare That Won’t Go Away
Since the financial crisis began in September 2008, there have been more than five million completed foreclosures nationwide. From August to September, the number of completed foreclosures increased 4.7 percent.
“Although the foreclosure inventory and rate of seriously delinquent loans remain elevated in many states, progress is being made. This bodes well for a better housing market in 2015 and beyond,” CoreLogic CEO and president Anand Nallathambi said in a statement.
Last month there were about 607,000 homes in some stage of foreclosure, down from 924,000 the previous year. Foreclosure inventory fell 2.8 percent from August to September – which marks the 35th consecutive month of declines in foreclosure inventory.
Related: 6 Housing Trends That May Surprise You
Florida was the state with the most completed foreclosures in the past year, with 120,000 properties going back to the banks. The Sunshine State was followed by Texas, which had 36,000 foreclosures in the past year, and California with 31,000. These three states, along with Michigan and Georgia, experienced almost half of all complete foreclosures nationally.
With just 63 foreclosures in the past year, South Dakota had the fewest foreclosures of any state.
Last month, sales of new single-family homes hit a six-year high, while pending home sales rose 0.3 percent in September.
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