Mirrors other La. metro areas:Five Louisiana metropolitan areas, including Baton Rouge, posted year-to-year increases in foreclosure activity during the first half of 2010, according to a national study by RealtyTrac. In the Capital Region, 1,817 properties were targeted by a foreclosure-related notice during the first half of 2010, says RealtyTrac. That’s up 46.9% from a year ago. During the first half of 2010, one out of every 180 homes received a notice. Metro Baton Rouge ranked 150th out of 206 metro areas for foreclosures. Irvine, Calif.-based RealtyTrac, which tracks foreclosures nationwide, says more homeowners underwent some step of foreclosure—ranging from an initial notice of default to outright repossession and sale—in 154 of the 206 metro areas it follows.
Lafayette, Houma-Thibodaux unchanged: The number of construction jobs in Baton Rouge has decreased 1% since June 2009. According to the Associated General Contractors of America, there were 40,100 construction jobs in the Capital Region in June, compared with 40,600 the year before. AGC says construction employment rose in 25 of 337 U.S. metro areas in June. No Louisiana city saw construction gains, although Lafayette and Houma-Thibodaux were unchanged from year-to-year.
