Santa Cruz Sentinel - "Foreclosures jump in county" (2-19-07)

* Foreclosure sales in 2007 have more than tripled from the same period a year ago, from 11 to 41. Compare that to the number of single-family homes sold last year, an average of 159 per month.
* The Santa Cruz Record, a legal publication that tracks forecloures, has expanded to 20 pages, mostly due to foreclosure-related activity.
* Real estate agents and mortgage brokers are getting advice on how to handle foreclosure transactions, which are strictly regulated. One session took place last week; another will take place Wednesday, sponsored by the Santa Cruz chapter of the Women's Council of Realtors.
* The number of defaults in the county — cases where people fall behind on their mortgage payments — has jumped from 59 to 83, adding to the likelihood that more homes will be sold in foreclosure.