Preliminary LPS Report Shows Slight Rise in Delinquencies After Declines

""Lender Processing Services"":http://www.lpsvcs.com/Pages/default.aspx (LPS) provided a peek into month-end data for mortgage performance in April, and reported after 9 months of declines, mortgage delinquencies increased.

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The total delinquency rate for loans 30 days or more past due but not in foreclosure was 7.12 percent, a 0.4 percent month-over-month increase. Compared to a year ago, the delinquency rate was down by 10.6 percent.

According to LPS, March generally sees the biggest drop in delinquencies for the year, which could explain the sudden increase.

For April, the total number of properties delinquent but not in foreclosure numbered 3,522,000. When including foreclosures with delinquencies, the total was 5,570,000.

At 4.14 percent, the rate of properties in pre-sale inventory was unchanged on a monthly and yearly basis.

Florida took the lead for the highest percentage of non-current loans, which includes foreclosures and delinquencies. Mississippi came in second, followed by New Jersey, Nevada, and Illinois.

The states with the lowest percentage of non-current loans were Montana, Alaska, South Dakota, Wyoming, and North Dakota.

LPS provides technology solutions and services, as well as data and analytics to mortgage lenders, servicers, and investors.