Thanks for visiting The Mortgage Reports. To stay absolutely current on mortgage markets and important guideline changes, be sure to take my free daily email alerts.

Let's hear it for Ohio.

As reported by RealtyTrac.com, the Buckeye State is the only state among the Top 10 in 2009 Foreclosure Activity to post fewer filings versus 2008.

It's a nice boost for a state that's been beaten down by high unemployment and the New York Jets. Foreclosures are slowing statewide, helping both home values and homeowner morale. The market is turning.

The RealtyTrac 2009 Foreclosure Report included some other noteworthy nuggets, too.

1. 46 states account for just 49% of 2009's foreclosures. California, Florida, Arizona and Illinois account for the rest.
2. The nation averaged 1 foreclosure filing per 46 households. 80% of states fell below the national average.
3. The pace of foreclosure filings fell in 10 states (including Ohio).

For as thorough as the RealtyTrac report is, though, it's easily skewed by factors from the outside, the biggest of which is political. Many states have enacted some form of foreclosure prevention law that slows, delays, or halts the foreclosure process. Another factor is a lender's ability to process large numbers of foreclosures at one time.

There could be many more in-trouble homeowners than the data has us believe.

It's not stopping foreclosures from being big business, however. Distressed homes account for one-third of home resale activity, according to the National Association of REALTORS™. The key to getting a "deal" is to find the cheap home before the next guy.

The good news is that you don't need a real estate agent to get started on your search.  A host of websites aggregate and collate foreclosure information, presenting it like a listing sheet.  You can search for homes using an innumerable number of traits.

3 sites that provide great information include:

1. RealtyTrac (free 7-day access)
2. Foreclosure.com (free 7-day access)
3. HUDForeclosed.com (free 7-day access)

If you're considering foreclosed homes as a first-time or move-up, or even as an experienced investor, register with all 3 sites -- each pulls from a slightly different data set so you'll see different homes from one site to the next.  You'll be able to quickly narrow your search to the viable homes and get on with the business of buying.

Even in Ohio, foreclosure opportunities are still out there. Search online and see what you find. Then, when you're ready for your pre-approval letter, call or . I'm experienced with foreclosures for first-time buyers and can also do mortgages for people that own more than 4 properties.

Oh, and my rates are really good.

Dan Green is an active loan officer. Email or call 513-443-2020. Dan is on Twitter at @mortgagereports.