LOS ANGELES (AP) -- The foreclosure crisis is getting worse as high unemployment and lackluster job prospects force homeowners in an increasing number of U.S. metropolitan areas into dire financial straits.
In Seattle, Houston and Chicago, a growing number of homeowners are falling behind on mortgage payments and finding themselves on the receiving end of foreclosure warnings. Others have already seen their homes repossessed by lenders. Those cities were relatively insulated from foreclosures early on in the housing bust.
Foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac says all told, foreclosure activity jumped in 149 of the country's 206 largest metropolitan areas last year.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
