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Allen County foreclosure filings have almost tripled since 2005, according to a real estate tracking company.

The county had 4,933 houses in some stage of foreclosure last year, RealtyTrac Inc. said Tuesday in its year-end report. The number climbed nearly 19 percent from 2006, when 4,160 houses were in foreclosure.

In comparison, RealtyTrac said 1,695 Allen County homes were in foreclosure in 2005.

Coldwell Banker Roth Wehrly Graber sold about 1,500 foreclosed homes in northeast Indiana last year, said John Bellio, president of sales. About 360 of those sales involved owners who defaulted on Federal Housing Administration loans.

Many homeowners who fell behind on their payments made no down payment to buy their houses and then later refinanced to pay off other debts, Bellio said. read more