RIVERSIDE - Fewer Riverside County households fell into foreclosure last month, but the number was still higher than a year ago, a real estate tracking firm reported today.

A total 7,470 mortgage default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions were recorded in Riverside County in November -- a 22 percent drop from October, but a 9 percent increase compared to a year ago, according

to Irvine-based RealtyTrac.

The month-to-month decline moved the county from No. 1 to No. 4 in statewide foreclosure activity. According to data, 1 in 101 county households were in some stage of foreclosure in November.

Merced County had the highest foreclosure volume, followed by San Joaquin County and Stanislaus County. San Bernardino County was just behind Riverside in foreclosure activity, according to RealtyTrac.

The drop in defaults locally mirrored a statewide trend. Figures showed foreclosure filings in California fell 13 percent Advertisement

Sweat Cardio & Yoga last month, though activity was still up 22 percent compared to November 2008.

"Loan modifications and other foreclosure prevention efforts, along with the recently extended and expanded homebuyer tax credit, are keeping a lid on the most visible symptoms of the nation's ailing housing market --

foreclosures and home value depreciation,'' said Realty Trac CEO James J. Saccacio.

"This is providing a welcome respite for the real estate industry, but a full recovery will only come when unemployment recedes to normal, healthy levels and when availability of credit reaches a more rational balance between the extremes of the past two years.''

With 73,995 households in default last month, California ranked third in nationwide foreclosure activity, dropping from second place in October, according to RealtyTrac.

Nevada had the highest rate, followed by Florida. Data indicated Arizona was just behind California, and Idaho rounded out the top five.