A new analysis and map from Foreclosure-Response.org shows that foreclosures and mortgage issues are still affecting Florida worse than almost anywhere else in the United States. According to the report, Florida is home to 17 of the 25 metro areas with the highest foreclosure rates. Additionally, 15 of the 25 metro areas with the highest levels of serious delinquency are also home in Florida, each with over 15 percent of its mortgages deemed seriously delinquent. Foreclosure-Response.org defines seriously delinquent mortgages are those that are currently undergoing foreclosure or 90 or more days past due.

The analysis finds that the Miami Fort Lauderdale Pompano area has the nation's highest proportion of homeowners facing foreclosure in the entire nation. As of the report's publication, the area saw a foreclosure rate of 18.5 percent; up from June 2010s rate of 17.8 percent. However, Miami Fort Lauderdale Pompano's rate of serious delinquency has fallen since June 2010 from 25.6 percent to 23.5 percent.

Experts are currently unsure what could cause the area's foreclosure rate to increase while its serious delinquency rate has fallen. One hypothesis is that a higher number of Florida homeowners were able to make delinquent mortgage payments in 2011 than in 2010. If this is true, it could signal an ensuing economic recovery for Florida, which has suffered more fallout from the foreclosure crisis than any other state. Figures from Miami-Dade County support this hypothesis, as the county has gone from 64,001 foreclosures in 2009, to 34,000 foreclosures in 2010, and finally to 14,646 foreclosures between January and November of 2011.

Whether homeowners are simply trying to weigh out their options shortly after falling on financial problems or have already been served with a foreclosure notice, there are legal professionals available to answer any questions.

Source: The Atlantic Cities, "Map of the Day: Florida's Ongoing Mortgage Problem," Nate Berg, Dec. 30, 2011