With 149,150 foreclosure filings reported nationwide in March, U.S. foreclosure activity was up 7 percent from the previous month and 47 percent from a year ago, according to RealtyTrac's foreclosure market report that was released yesterday.

The March total — which includes default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions — was the highest monthly total since RealtyTrac began issuing its report in January 2005 and resulted in a foreclosure rate of one foreclosure filing for every 775 U.S. households.

Nevada documented the highest state foreclosure rate for the month, one foreclosure filing for every 183 households. Colorado's foreclosure rate ranked second highest, followed by California's foreclosure rate, which leapfrogged into third place thanks to a 36 percent jump in foreclosure activity.

California also documented the most foreclosure filings of any state, 31,434, and California cities accounted for six out of the top 10 metro foreclosure rates.

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