The number of foreclosure filings increased again in the latest month, growing by 25 percent from October 2007, according Irvine, Ca.-based RealtyTrac.  Unfortunately this trend has been in place for some time and there seems to be no end in sight.

“October marks the 34th consecutive month where U.S. foreclosure activity has increased compared to the prior year,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac.

There were 279,500 U.S. homes in some stage of the foreclosure process last month, up 5 percent from September figures. That accounts for one out of every 452 households across the country encountering a default notice, auction sales notice or a bank repossession.

“The really sobering reality for us is that despite these various state programs that are artificially keeping the numbers down, we are still up 25% from a year ago,” said Rick Sharga, senior vice president of RealtyTrac in reference to a new California law enacted in September.

The Golden State law calls for mortgage lenders to personally contact and negotiate with borrowers before beginning the foreclosure process. This law has delayed, but not permanently reduced, the number of foreclosures on the books.

The states with the highest rates of foreclosure were Nevada, Arizona, and Florida, according to RealtyTrac data.  Nevada had one foreclosure filling for every 74 homes in October, six times the national rate. Last month marks the 22nd month that the state has had the highest foreclosure rate in the country.

Arizona saw its foreclosure filings rise to 17,507, an 35 percent increase from September and a 176 percent jump during the past year. The foreclosure rate there is now one out of every 149 households.

Foreclosures in Florida grew to 54,324 in October, up 13 percent from the previous month and 80 percent from the same time a year ago. One out of every 157 properties is now in some stage of foreclosure in Florida.

As to when things will start to turn around, Sharga said, ““It took us the first half of the decade to get into this problem, so it is probably going to take a couple of years to get out.”