It is evident that ForeclosureResearch is not the only one with concerns over certain foreclosure reporting companies The Housing Assistance Council, a Washington DC non-profit, has also expressed concerns over foreclosure data in certain areas of the country. Such concerns were recently released in an October 2009 HAC report, “What is the housing foreclosure situation in rural America?”

The report specifically describes concerns over RealtyTrac figures. Here is a snippet of the report:

RealtyTrac presents data for approximately 2,200 counties across the United States. This excludes roughly 900 counties, most of which are predominately rural. RealtyTrac does not openly disclose its methodology for data collection; however, company representatives indicated that they generally do not collect data for a county if it has less than 10,000 housing units (RealtyTrac 2008a). The company has reportedly improved its quality control measures; however, duplicate and multiple counting of foreclosure entries is a particular concern when citing RealtyTrac data (Galvin 2007). Limitations related to over representation in some areas (namely urban), and under-representation in others (primarily rural), indicate substantial concern when trying to derive rural foreclosure estimates from RealtyTrac data.

Report References:
Realty Trac -a. Telephone discussion with ReatlyTrac representative, Mike Smith. July 25, 2008.

Galvin, Andrew. “Tracking the Truth on Foreclosures,” The Orange County Register. November 18, 2007.