Foreclosures in NW Arkansas

In an effort to bring you current information regarding foreclosures in Benton and Washington Counties, I’ve read enough statistics to make my head spin. I think it all comes down to the old saying, “everything is relative.”

Overall, the Arkansas foreclosure rate ranks right about in the middle. There are 26 states with higher foreclosures rates. The national average is one foreclosure for every 416 homes but the Arkansas rate is ‘only’ one for every 1099 homes.

Four states make everything else look good. Nevada is #1, California #2, Arizona #3, and Florida #4. It’s hard to imagine that 1 in every 91 homes in Nevada has received a foreclosure notice!

In Benton and Washington Counties, the July 2008 rate was closer to the national average - Benton County one for every 418 homes; Washington County – one for every 404 homes.

Arvest Bank took an innovative step to sell approximately 170 properties it had foreclosed on by holding one big auction in early August. Reserves were placed on all but five properties, meaning the bank would have final decision on whether to accept the offer. Arvest has not disclosed final results but in some cases potential buyers and the bank will have an opportunity to renegotiate terms.

Overall, I think it was both a bold move and a good idea. Nothing of that size has been done previously in NW Arkansas or perhaps all of Arkansas. Banks have become saddled with property they never wanted to own and they need to get them off their books.

Foreclosed properties drive down the price of surrounding homes. The sooner they are all sold, the sooner the market can begin to normalize.

For more information:

http://www.nwarktimes.com/adg/News/232968

http://www.nwarktimes.com/adg/Business_Matters/233953

http://www.nwarktimes.com/adg/News/233166

http://www.nwarktimes.com/adg/Business/233671

http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2008/08/19/business/082008foreclosures.txt

http://www.nwarktimes.com/adg/National/236465
http://www.realtytrac.com/ContentManagement/pressrelease.aspx?ChannelID=9&ItemID=5163&accnt=64847#statetable