There’s finally a little good news about foreclosures all across the U.S.   134,000 homeowners received help and mortgage modifications from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the third quarter of 2012.  Since 2008 Fannie and Freddie say they prevented more 2.5 million foreclosures with permanent loan modifications.  About 45 percent of these homeowners had their mortgage payments lowered by 30 percent.  And 38,000 homeowners who couldn’t hang on were able to complete shorts sales or turn their deeds over to lenders in-lieu-of foreclosure.  Both procedures are less damaging to credit ratings than straight-out foreclosure.

Overall, late mortgage payments declined by 9 percent in 2012. But in Florida about 29 percent of those who are delinquent owe more than a year’s worth of payments.

Here are a few positive stats from the states

New York-Almost 89,000 got help and close to 84,000 kept their homes.

New Jersey – More than 79,000 got help and almost 70,000 kept their homes.

California – Almost 335,000  got help and more than 260,000 kept their homes.

Illinois- Almost 124,000 helped and almost 105,000 kept their homes.