DENVER -- Foreclosure filings in Colorado's largest counties rose 6.5 percent last month compared to February 2009. According to a report released Wednesday by the Department of Local Affairs' Division of Housing, foreclosure sales at auction rose 14 percent from February 2009 to February 2010, but remain down 14 percent compared to February 2008. New foreclosure filings were also down 14 percent compared to February of 2008.

Foreclosure filings are the initial filings that begin the foreclosure process. Foreclosure sales totals are the total number of foreclosures that have been sold at auction at the end of the foreclosure process.

Larimer County filings decreased 24 percent and El Paso County filings decreased 16 percent from February 2009 to February 2010. Mesa County had the most foreclosure filings during the same time span, with 223 percent more.

Colorado's February 2010 Foreclosure Report

"Early last year, Fannie, Freddie and some major services joined in a moratorium on foreclosures, so it's not surprising that this year, with no moratorium in place, numbers are higher," said Ryan McMaken, a spokesperson for the Division of Housing. "Yet the overall trend shows that new foreclosure filings are flattening out for now."

Foreclosure sales decreased in Adams, Denver, El Paso, Jefferson and Weld counties from February 2009 to February 2010. The largest decrease was in Weld County where sales decreased 20 percent. The largest increase was found in Mesa County where foreclosure sales increased 363 percent. In comparison to 2008, some counties reported substantial decreases with Adams, Arapahoe and Denver counties all reporting declines of more than 40 percent.