The number of foreclosures in the Pittsburgh area fell almost 30 percent from a year ago, and the city ranked 86th of 100 cities tracked for foreclosure rate in 2007.

Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac Inc. said Pittsburgh logged 9,012 default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions on 4,040 properties last year.

The Detroit area had the highest foreclosure rate in the nation last year at one property facing foreclosure for every 20 households, about five times the national average of one for every 97 households. Cities in Ohio, California, Florida and Michigan dominated the metro areas with the 20 highest foreclosure rates nationwide, accounting for 15.

Courtesy of the Pittsburgh Business Times