Mid-September statistics

I'll take a break from talking about website features so we can take a peak at mid-month recording statistics for key document types.  From September 1 through Sept 15, 2011, there were 175 deeds recorded, a 3% decrease from the 180 recorded during the same two weeks in 2010.  The number for mortgages fell much more precipitously, dropping 27%, from 605 in 2010 to just 439 so far this month. 

The good news is that foreclosure-related documents are way down.  In the first half of September in 2010, there were 33 foreclosure deeds and 57 orders of notice recorded; so far this month there have been 14 foreclosure deeds and only 13 orders of notice, a drop of 58% for foreclosure deeds and 77% for orders of notice. 

We'll have to watch these foreclosure-related stats very closely.  Lately the mainstream media has been rife with stories about soaring foreclosure rates.  I suspect such stories may be tracked back to the Warren Group which counts the number of new foreclosure petitions being filed in the Land Court.  If these reports are accurate, we should see an uptick in order of notice filings in the coming weeks.  I hope that's not the case, but we'll watch for it and report on it one way or another.