The nationwide foreclosure rate in the United States for the first six months of the year stands at one for every 134 households. That’s a 55 percent increase over the same period in 2006, according to RealtyTrac, the online foreclosure-property marketplace. The Irvine, California–based company reported on July 30 that 925,986 foreclosure filings, which include default notices, auction-sale notices, and bank repossessions, had been made during the first half of the year. (The chart, left, shows the foreclosure activity for the last five quarters.)

Western states have the dubious distinction of topping the year-to-date foreclosure list. Nevada had 25,208 foreclosure filings, a rate of one for every 40 households. Colorado (34,287 filings, one for every 60 households) and California (189,560 filings, one for every 69 households) ranked second and third and were joined in the top 10 by Michigan, Florida, Ohio, Georgia, Arizona, Connecticut, and Indiana. Vermont reported the fewest filings—only 18, or one for every 17,075 households. You’ll find foreclosure information for every state here.

“Based on the rate of foreclosure activity in the first half of 2007, we could easily surpass 2 million foreclosure filings by the end of the year, which would represent a year-over-year increase of over 65 percent,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac.

Essential information: If you’re one of the many U.S. homeowners having a difficult time selling your home in this tough housing market, follow this advice to increase the odds that you'll find a buyer.—Steven H. Saltzman