Foreclosures Spike in Massachusetts

Foreclosure filings in Massachusetts were nearly a third higher through August than in the comparable period of last year, according to ForeclosuresMass, Framingham, Mass.Statewide foreclosures were 32.8% higher in the period of January through August than the levels recorded in the same months of 2004, the online data provider reported. "We have seen a remarkable spike in the past few months," said Jeremy Shapiro, president and co-founder of ForeclosuresMass. "Looking forward, it will be interesting to see how unprecedented increases in the cost of home heating fuel and gas, coupled with other pressures on mortgagees, will impact foreclosures in the months to come." The company can be found online at http://www.foreclosuresmass.com.