Following the lead of several other governors and state representatives around the country, Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced Wednesday the formation of an anti-foreclosure task force to combat the rising levels of foreclosure homes across the state.

In reaction to the rising foreclosure rate of foreclosure all over the state, Maryland Governor Mike O’Malley announced a new emergency order Tuesday requiring mortgage lenders to notify the state ahead of the homeowner when a default is going to be issued on a delinquent mortgage. The legislation is intended to give local authorities a chance to offer help and assistance to the homeowner before the process begins, so that they will be better prepared and more equipped to avoid an eventual foreclosure.

With Texas foreclosures rising to near record highs in many parts of the state, foreclosure auctions in the area have become a big draw for homebuyers and real estate investors. Looking to capitalize on the chance to buy Texas foreclosure homes for discount prices, many buyers are attending auctions, buying bank foreclosures and trying to invest in these lucrative chances for real estate profits.

North Carolina foreclosures soared to new heights in 2007, making them one of the states with the highest jumps in foreclosure rate in the past year. During the period between November 2006 and November 2007, the amount of North Carolina foreclosure homes rose over 143%, which is a staggering figure, even for the foreclosure plagued southeastern region. The state still fares better than the national average however, which stands at about 1 foreclosure per 600 households. North Carolina averages roughly 1 foreclosure for every 1000 households.

While Virginia foreclosures have remained at comparatively low levels to other states during the recent foreclosure boom, over the course of 2007 the number of Virginia foreclosure homes coming onto the market increased substantially, and that could spell good news for potential investors.

While the rest of the country is experiencing a surge in the foreclosure market, Pennsylvania foreclosures have fallen dramatically since the end of 2006, bucking the national trend. New data suggests that the foreclosure situation in the state is beginning to right itself, as the number of new Pennsylvania foreclosure homes has fallen steadily since August.

The market for South Carolina foreclosures is certainly growing, as the state experienced significant growth in its foreclosure rate over 2007, much like rest of the southeastern region of the country. Bankruptices across the state, due almost entirely to the high costs associated with mortgage payments, were up 18% in 2007, leading to a huge surge in the amount of South Carolina foreclosure homes on the market.

Despite a drop during the month of November, Massachusetts foreclosures on the whole were on the rise in 2007, surging roughly 70% above their 2006 levels at the end of the year.