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The Central Valley’s stock of foreclosed houses continues to shrink as  more mortgage holders manage to stay current on their payments, according to new data from real estate information firm CoreLogic.

In Fresno, 4.2 percent of mortgages were delinquent by at least 30 days (including those in foreclosure) in September compared with 4.6 percent in September 2016, representing a decrease of 0.4 percentage points. Fresno mortgages in serious delinquency (90-plus days past due) totaled 1.3 percent in September compared with 1.6 percent in September 2016. The foreclosure inventory rate for this September was 0.3 percent compared with 0.4 percent a year earlier.

In Visalia-Porterville, 4.8 percent of mortgages were delinquent by at least 30 days in September compared with 5.1 percent in September 2016, representing a decrease of 0.3 percentage points. Visalia-Porterville mortgages in serious delinquency totaled 1.4 percent in September compared with 1.7 percent in September 2016. The foreclosure inventory rate for this September was 0.3 percent compared with 0.4 percent a year earlier.

In Madera, 4.5 percent of mortgages were delinquent by at least 30 days in September compared with 4.9 percent in September 2016, representing a decrease of 0.4 percentage points. Madera mortgages in serious delinquency (90-plus days past due) totaled 1.5 percent in September compared with 1.6 percent in September 2016. The foreclosure inventory rate for this September was 0.4 percent compared with 0.5 percent a year earlier.

In Hanford-Corcoran, 5.1 percent of mortgages were delinquent by at least 30 days in September , unchanged from September 2016. Hanford-Corcoran mortgages in serious delinquency totaled 1.4 percent in September compared with 1.9 percent in September 2016. The foreclosure inventory rate for this September was 0.4 percent compared with 0.6 percent a year earlier.

Nationally, the early-stage delinquency rate increased by 0.3 percent from a year ago, but that reflects Mother Nature more than bad credit, according to a CoreLogic researcher.

“September’s early-stage delinquency rate increased by 0.3 percent from a year ago, the largest increase since June 2009. This does not reflect a deterioration in credit, but rather the impact of the hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico,” said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist for CoreLogic. “September’s early-stage delinquency transition rate rose to 2.6 percent in Texas and it rose to 3.2 percent in Florida, which is higher than the 1 percent that’s typical for both states. Texas and Florida’s early-stage delinquency transition rates in September are much lower than New Orleans in September 2005 when the transition rate reached 17.4 percent as a result of Hurricane Katrina.”