U.S. foreclosures rose 4 percent in April

IRVINE, Calif., May 15 (UPI) -- U.S. property foreclosure filings rose 4 percent in April and have jumped 65 percent since April 2007 RealtyTrac, an industry research group, said.

During the month, 243,353 filings, including default notices, auction sales notices and bank repossessions were reported, RealtyTrac said in a statement.

"Foreclosure activity in April was the highest monthly total we've seen since we began issuing the report in January 2005," Chief Executive Officer of RealtyTrac James Saccacio said.

Nevada, with one out of every 146 homes involved in foreclosure activity, continues to lead the states with the highest rate, the report said.

California, with one in every 204 homes involved, ranked second, although foreclosures there dropped by 1 percent on the month, the report said.

Arizona ranked third with one home in every 224 involved in foreclosure activity. Florida, with a 146 percent jump from April 2007, ranked fourth with one home in every 242 involved.