Official figures have confirmed that the number of residential properties across US which have received at least one foreclosure filing in 2009 hiked by 21%, to hit a record high of 2.82 million. The numbers were shared on Thursday by RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure marketplace.

Also, the report released revealed that 2.21% of US homes, i. e., about 1 in 45, have received at least one filing for foreclosure over the year, which is a substantial rise from the 2008 figure of
1.84%, as well as 2007 and 2006 numbers of 1.03% and 0.58%, respectively.

What is even graver is that the portal has insisted that the foreclosure trouble is not going to end anytime soon.

"As bad as the 2009 numbers are, they probably would have been worse if not for legislative and industry-related delays in processing delinquent loans", said James Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac.

The maximum number of foreclosures filed was in July, with 361,000, but the number then declined for four consecutive months before jumping again in December.

Nevada led the country in the rate of foreclosures in 2009, with 10% or so homes across the state being slammed with some form of proceeding.