by Calculated Risk on 3/01/2010 04:02:00 PM

REO: Real Estate Owned.

Click on graph for larger image in new window.

This graph (ht Tom Lawler) shows the REO inventory for Fannie, Freddie and FHA through Q4 2009.

Even with all the delays in foreclosure, the REO inventory has increased sharply over the last two quarters, from 135,868 at the end of Q2 2009, to 153,007 in Q3 2009, and 172,357 at the end of Q4 2009.

And here is the monthly Fannie Mae hockey stick graph ... (note that Fannie releases delinquency data with a one month lag to Freddie). The increase in delinquencies slowed in December ...

Fannie Mae reported last week that the rate of serious delinquencies - at least 90 days behind - for conventional loans in its single-family guarantee business increased to 5.38% at the end of December, up from 5.29% in November - and up from 2.42% in December 2008.

"Includes seriously delinquent conventional single-family loans as a percent of the total number of conventional single-family loans."

Once again it is important to note these stats do include Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) loans in trial modifications.