Foreclosures in Mesa County have increased for the first half of this year over the same period last year. As of June 30, Mesa County recorded 242 foreclosures, 51 more than last year’s 191, according to figures released Wednesday by the Mesa County Public Trustee.

In the first quarter last year, 102 properties were foreclosed in Mesa County, compared to 119 this year.

In the second quarter alone last year, 89 properties were foreclosed in Mesa County, compared to 123 this year.

Mesa County Public Trustee Paul Brown could not be reached to comment for this article.

Even though foreclosure filings have increased statewide, it’s at a slower rate than last year, said Ryan McMaken with the Colorado Division of Housing.

"2006 and 2007 saw big increases in foreclosure filings of 30 and 40 percent, so a 20 percent increase is a hopeful sign," said Kathi Williams, director of the Colorado Division of Housing. "We're not expecting an actual drop in total foreclosures, but we do hope to see the rate of increase flatten out."

In recent years, Douglas, El Paso and Broomfield counties have experienced some of the highest rates of foreclosure activity at 49, 48, and 48 percent respectively.

McMaken’s report shows Mesa County with a much lower foreclosure rate than Front Range counties. Mesa County sees one home foreclosed for every 235 homes. In neighboring Garfield County, the rate is one foreclosure for every 344 household.

South of Grand Junction, in LaPlata County, the rate is one foreclosure for every 290 homes, and in Eagle County, the rate is one foreclosure per 233 households.

The highest foreclosure rate continues to be Adams County, which recorded one foreclosure for every 44 households.

“The foreclosure filings number provides a view of how many borrowers have become seriously delinquent on their loans,” McMaken said.

Even though properties can be withdrawn from the process, the numbers still show where borrowers are delinquent, he said.

So far, through June 30, trustees in Colorado reported 22,500 foreclosures, compared with 39,915 in the state in all of last year.

Statistics during the first two quarters of this year will be “difficult to interpret,” McMaken said. That is due to a new law that changes the amount of time a home owner has to make good on the loan.

“There will be a significant drop observed in foreclosure sales during March and April as the old system of foreclosures gives way to the new system. By the third quarter of 2008, patterns and trends will begin to establish themselves,” he said.

Reach Marija B. Vader at mvader@gjfreepress.com.