NEW YORK - January 13, 2011 - The pace of foreclosures has slowed since revelations that thousands of foreclosure documents may have been improperly prepared, but for all 2010, almost 2.9 million U.S. properties received foreclosure filings, a record high, and up 2% from 2009.

Nationwide, 1 in 45 homes received at least one foreclosure filing during the year. In December, actual bank repossessions nationwide totaled 69,847, down 24% from December 2009 but up 4% from November.

Foreclosure filings were off 26% last month from December 2009, RealtyTrac reports today. In November, filings were down 14% year over year. The December drop was the biggest in at least five years. December's foreclosure filings are the lowest monthly total since June 2008, according to RealtyTrac.

Lenders and mortgage servicers imposed delays on foreclosure processes in October after reports in September that some servicers did not follow legal procedures in tens of thousands of foreclosures. Mortgage servicers say they're resuming stalled foreclosures, but RealtyTrac estimates that up to 250,000 may have been delayed by the controversy. Those foreclosures will likely be restarted and added to the numbers in early 2011, says James Saccacio, RealtyTrac CEO.