Lowell Deeds

We crunched some numbers today comparing recordings for August of 2006 with August of 2005. For total documents, this month we recorded 7091, 26% less than the 9546 we recorded last August. The number of deeds recorded was down by 30% from 987 in 2005 to 695 in 2006. Mortgages were down similarly (by 27%) from 2782 in 2005 to 2034 in 2006. Unfortunately, foreclosure filings (orders of notice) and foreclosure deeds were both up substantially. Foreclosure filings (what the media now is calling oders of notice) rose 116% from 25 in August 2005 to 54 this month. Foreclosure deeds rose a disturbing 283%, from 6 in August 2005 to 23 this month. Check back tomorrow when we try to put this upward spike in foreclosure activity in historical context.