Ohio foreclosure rate nation's 13th highest

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) - Ohio had the nation's 13th-highest foreclosure rate in May as one out of every 608 households in the state received a foreclosure notice.

A report released Thursday by Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac shows Ohio saw nearly 8,400 foreclosure filings last month. Filings include default notices, auction-sale notices and bank repossessions.

RealtyTrac says the number of homeowners nationwide who were put on notice for being behind on their mortgage payments fell in May to the lowest level since 2006. The decline was the result of a slowing housing market and lingering delays in banks' foreclosure process.

Mortgage lenders also took back fewer properties in May, the second down month in a row. Repossessions have been held up as many lenders continue to work through foreclosure documentation problems that surfaced last fall.