America's 100 Most Foreclosure Prone Counties

San Joaquin County, California ranks number 3 of the top 100 counties in the nation with the highest percentage of households facing foreclosure, according to data provided in RealtyTrac's August 2007 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report.

In August, nationwide totals of 243,947 foreclosure filings were reported , up 36 percent from the previous month and up 115 percent from August 2006. This is the highest number of foreclosure filings in a single month that RealtyTrac has reported since it began issuing the monthly report in January 2005.

The August report also showed a national foreclosure rate of one foreclosure filing for every 510 households for the month; the highest national ratio ever issued by the foreclosure tracking company.

For the 664116 inhabitants of San Joaquin County the ratio is even more alarming. One of every 81.16 households in San Joaquin County is facing foreclosure. The county is home to 217991 homeowners.

California’s foreclosure rate jumped to second highest among the states thanks to a 48 percent month-over-month spike in foreclosure activity. The state reported 57,875 foreclosure filings during the month, a foreclosure rate of one foreclosure filing for every 224 households — more than twice the national average.

With 217991 households and total foreclosure filings in August reaching 2686, San Joaquin County is one of 19 counties in California to make the national list for counties with the highest foreclosure rates.

Although it is unclear what may have caused foreclosure activity in San Joaquin County to spike, one thing is clear. The situation is a national crises for homeowners with mortgages they can no longer afford AND an unprecedented opportunity for investors and home buyers.

The resources listed below may help you protect your home, lower or cancel your mortgage, or find a new home at a price no one could have imagined just a few years ago.

Recent class action lawsuits and court decisions make it possible for victims of predatory or deceptive lending and other forms of consumer fraud to receive compensation that can amount to a complete cancellation of deceptive mortgages. You may be a victim of consumer fraud and not even know it. Only a qualified attorney can tell you for sure.  Click here for legal help and a free evaluation of your possible case

Restructure Your Mortgage with Help From Reputable Lenders

LowerMyBills.com offers a free and confidential service to help you restructure your home loan. The company submits your request to up to four reputable lenders and allows you to review your offers and choose the one that's right for you.

Reduce Credit Card and Other Consumer Debt

It is possible for anyone to cut credit card and other recurring debt by as much as 50%. LowerMyBills.com provides a free service that makes it easy. The free service works by enabling consumers to enter particular information on a secure form, which then is used to match them with  companies that will best meet their needs. Start your free search:  for Affordable Debt Consolidation or to Reduce Credit Card Payments

RealtyTrac.com publishes nearly 1 Million properties from nearly 2,500 counties nationwide, and are the foreclosure data provider to MSN Real Estate, Yahoo! Real Estate, The Wall Street Journal’s Real Estate Journal and News for Public Officials. Start your free search for foreclosures and find homes for half the price.