Foreclosure crown losing its shine

Is the Fort Myers-Cape Coral area losing its crown as the foreclosure capital of the state?

Consider September's 570 court filings for foreclosure in Lee County. That's down 40% from the same month a year ago, according to the Southwest Florida Real Estate Investment Association.

While there's been a slight increase in foreclosure suits since June, don't expect a big jump later this year, says Jeff Tumbarello, the association's director. “Statistically, I don't see another wave of this proportion coming,” he says, referring to the previous tidal wave of foreclosures.

The top foreclosure filer in Lee County was Bank of America and Tumbarello noted the return of JP Morgan after an absence.