By Joe Holley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, August 22, 2007 10:45 AM

A new report shows that the number of Virginia residents losing their homes to foreclosure increased more than 300 in July from the same month a year ago. Maryland increased by 22.

RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure properties nationwide, reported that Virginia recorded 1,959 foreclosure filings during July, one for every 1,621 households. Maryland recorded 2,214, one for every 1,027 households.

Nationwide, foreclosure filings -- default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions -- were up 9 percent in July from the previous month and up 93 percent from July 2006. That's a national foreclosure rate of one filing for every 693 households.

For the seventh month in a row the highest foreclosure rate was in Nevada, one foreclosure filing for every 199 households. That's more than three times the national average.

Georgia's foreclosure rate jumped from eighth highest in June to second highest in July, due to a 75 percent increase in foreclosure activity from the previous month. Michigan was third, Virginia 21.

Detroit ranked number one among metropolitan areas, with 8,683 foreclosure filings during July, one filing for every 97 households. That's more than seven times the national average.

The District recorded seven foreclosures in July, one for every 39,682 households.