Fifteen of the cities with the top 25 metro foreclosure rates in the first half of 2007 were located in California, Florida and Ohio, according to the RealtyTrac Midyear 2007 Metropolitan Foreclosure Report, released yesterday. California led the way with seven cities in the top 25, while Florida and Ohio both had four cities. The report ranks the foreclosure rate in the nation’s 100 largest metro areas.

Stockton, Calif., reported the highest midyear foreclosure rate, one foreclosure filing for every 27 households during the six-month period — more than five times the national average.

Detroit’s foreclosure rate of one foreclosure filing for every 29 households came in second place, and the nearby Warren-Farmington Hills-Troy metro area placed No. 25 with a foreclosure rate of one foreclosure filing for every 80 households.

Florida cities in the top 25 were Miami at No. 7; Fort Lauderdale at No. 11; Jacksonville at No. 21; and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater at No. 24. Ohio cities in the top 25 were Cleveland at No. 10; Dayton at No. 16; Akron at No. 18; and Columbus at No. 20.

View all 100 rankings.