PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The foreclosure crisis in Rhode Island eased a bit in April, May and June, according to numbers made public Thursday morning by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The percentage of borrowers behind on mortgages and the percentage in foreclosure during those months — the second quarter of the year — dropped slightly when compared to the first quarter. Also, most of the measurements of mortgage delinquency and foreclosure were down in the second quarter of 2010 compared to the second quarter of 2009.

Still, more than 10 percent of Rhode Island mortgage holders were at least a month behind on their payments during the second quarter of this year, and more than 1 in 30 mortgages were in foreclosure at the end of June, according to the industry group.

While the percentage of borrowers in foreclosure and going into foreclosure during the second quarter decreased over the last year, the percentage of those falling behind on payments increased over the year, forecasting that another rise in foreclosures could be around the corner.

Key indicators showed:

* Borrowers at least a month behind on payments dropped to 10.44 percent in the second quarter, from 10.48 percent in the first quarter. But that is much higher than the second quarter last year, when 8.93 percent were behind.

* The percentage of borrowers three or more months behind followed the same pattern, dropping from the first quarter, but significantly higher than the second quarter last year. In the second quarter this year, 5.33 percent of borrowers were three or more payments behind, compared to 5.63 percent in the first quarter and 3.49 percent in the second quarter last year.

* The percentage of loans in foreclosure at the end of the quarter and the percentage of borrowers who went into foreclosure during the quarter dropped in the second quarter, both compared to the first quarter and to the second quarter last year.

* For mortgages in foreclosure at the end of the quarter, the percentages were: 3.40 for the second quarter this year, 3.60 for the first quarter and 4.08 for the second quarter last year.

* For mortgages entering foreclosure, the percentages were: 0.95 for the second quarter this year, 1.07 for the first quarter and 1.47 for the second quarter last year.

Source: http://newsblog.projo.com/2010/08/ri-foreclosure-picture-brighte.html