Top 20 states by foreclosure rate in August

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Banks have stepped up their actions against homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments, setting the stage for a fresh wave of foreclosures. The number of U.S. homes that received an initial default notice _ the first step in the foreclosure process _ jumped 33 percent in August from July, foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. said Thursday. The increase represents a nine-month high and the biggest monthly gain in four years. The spike signals banks are starting to take swifter action against homeowners, nearly a year after processing issues led to a sharp slowdown in foreclosures. Here is a list of the top 20 states with the highest foreclosure rates in August. The ratio shows, for example, that one out of every 118 households in Nevada received a foreclosure notice during the month. Also highlighted: The number of properties that received notices.

1 Nevada 1:118 9,677

2 California 1:226 59,383

3 Arizona 1:248 11,081

4 Georgia 1:346 11,743

5 Idaho 1:348 1,860

6 Michigan 1:349 13,016

7 Florida 1:376 23,569

8 Illinois 1:424 12,493

9 Colorado 1:439 4,933

10 Utah 1:450 2,119

11 Ohio 1:518 9,841

12 Delaware 1:606 654

13 Oregon 1:621 2,638

14 South Carolina 1:624 3,339

15 New Hampshire 1:638 940

16 Wisconsin 1:674 3,841

17 Massachusetts 1:718 3,826

18 New Mexico 1:735 1,195

19 Virginia 1:780 4,269

20 Rhode Island 1:828 546