Ok, not really, but the headlines covering 2009 foreclosures may as well have purported such a figure. CNNMoney.com offered an article titled, “Record 3 million households hit with foreclosure in 2009.” The article written by Les Christie and published on January 14, 2010 seemingly reports three million foreclosures last year or at least that’s what the headline reads.

Let’s hope visitors to the site at least read through the first paragraph which states, “Almost 3 million homeowners received at least one foreclosure filing during 2009.”

Even more so, let’s hope that these visitors read through the fourth paragraph which offers even more insight. The article states that while foreclosures FILINGS were at record highs, that actual bank repossessions, or what people in the industry like to call ‘foreclosures’ only increased 1% from 2008 figures. According to RealtyTrac and other foreclosure listing companies the average total remained under a million foreclosures.

In other words a more accurate headline would have read, “2009 foreclosures less than 1 million.”

Call me crazy, but the information provided in the fourth paragraph seems much more considerable than the headline and subsequent introductory paragraph. As ForeclosureResearch has disseminated in the past foreclosure filings should not be utilized to give an accurate interpretation of foreclosures or bank repossessions on a per household basis. Many times a single homeowner will receive up to 3 notices or filings. Also, many investors defaulting on a number of houses each receiving up to 3 notices a piece does not accurately depict the average homeowner.

States across the country should take an initiative similar to Colorado and gain control of their foreclosure statistics. In the meantime someone please send a memo to Christie containing the definition of foreclosure.

RealtyTrac seems to be the only major listing company that offered statistics for August. The foreclosure listing company reported a 1 percent decrease in filings with a 13 percent decrease in repossessions. ForeclosureS.com didn’t offer a report for the month presumably because they found an increase in fillings, as they have historically reported larger number of properties in foreclosure.

Here are some of this week’s headlines:

From the Washington Post: “Foreclosure Filings Were Flat in August.”
The Post chose to use the lower valued decrease (1 percent) of filings as opposed to actual repossessions.

From CNNMoney.com: “Foreclosures: The struggle continues.” While the article states the decrease in the 4th paragraph, the major premise was that pre-foreclosures, although also having exhibited a decrease, may continue to creep back.

Los Angeles Business Journal reports: “RealtyTrac: California ranks 3rd in August Foreclosures.” This ranking down from second which should have been stated in the headline as the more important statement.

From the Columbus Business First BizJournal: “Ohio’s August foreclosures nudge up.” This nudge refers to the 3 percent increase from July. July happened to show a 15 percent decrease. In other words a 12 percent decrease since June.

Boston.com reports: “Foreclosures still high, even as economy brightens.” The article does not even mention the 13 percent decrease.

From the Financial Times: “US foreclosure flings remain near record high.” This article also has no mention of the 13 percent decrease in repossessions, only that “foreclosure activity among US properties slipped last month for the first time since May.”

Within the first 15 articles on a Google News search only one article mentions the national decrease. This comes from the Philadelphia Inquirer, “Foreclosures dip from July number.” However, you won’t find the larger decrease of 13 percent until the 9th paragraph.

In order to boost morale the media outlets should put a little more consideration on highlighting the upside of the economic situation.