July 25th, 2008 1:01 PM

Seattle-area foreclosures increased faster than those of the state and nation in the second quarter, but the area continued to have a far smaller share of households in foreclosure.

Foreclosures in King and Snohomish counties rose 26 percent from the first quarter, compared with increases of 16 percent in Washington and 14 percent for the U.S., according to RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif., company that tracks foreclosures.

Area foreclosures were up 69 percent from the second quarter of 2007 -- smaller than the year-to-year rises of 87 percent and 121 percent in the state and nation, respectively.

One in every 411 Seattle-area households had a foreclosure filing in the second quarter, compared with rates of one in every 350 Washington households and one in every 171 households nationally.

Seattle had the 83rd lowest rate among the largest 100 U.S. metro areas.

Washington's rate put it 24th among states.

"Although much of the fallout from foreclosures is being driven by rampant activity in a few states, such as Nevada, California, Florida, Ohio, Arizona and Michigan, most areas of the country are seeing at least some increase in foreclosure activity," James J. Saccacio, RealtyTrac's chief executive, said in a statement.

"Forty-eight of 50 states and 95 out of the nation's 100 largest metro areas experienced year-over-year increases in foreclosure activity in the second quarter."

California had half the top-20 metro areas, by rate, led by Stockton and Riverside, with one in every 25 and one in every 32 households, respectively, receiving foreclosure filings. Las Vegas was third, while Florida had six of the top-20 areas.

Nevada topped the state list, with one in every 43 households receiving a foreclosure filing during the second quarter. California, Arizona and Florida were second, third and fourth.

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