Santa Clara County foreclosures in April: 500 San Mateo County foreclosures: 118 Alameda County foreclosures: 558

More homeowners in Santa Clara County faced the threat of foreclosure in the first three months of this year than at any time on record, a trend being played out across California.

DEFAULT NOTICES More Santa Clara County homeowners received "notices of default" from their mortgage lenders in the first quarter of this year than during any quarter on record.

Reflecting continued uncertainty in the mortgage markets and consumers' unwillingness to buy when most home values are falling, a record-low number of homes sold in March in Santa Clara County, and the median price of those that did sell dropped significantly.

One in five homes put on the market in Santa Clara County recently is an attempted "short sale," in which strapped homeowners try to sell for less than they owe their lenders.

One in five homes put on the market in Santa Clara County recently is a "short-sale" attempt, in which strapped homeowners try to sell for less than they owe their lenders...

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QHow did the Santa Clara County Assessor's Office decide which homes' assessed values should be decreased? ANearly all homes purchased in the last three years in the county were examined.

Home sales may be down in the county, and in some areas home values have dropped due to the subprime loan situation and resulting foreclosures, but the problem is not as serious in Silicon Valley as in other parts of the county, Santa Clara County's assessor Larry Stone told members of the Silicon

Santa Clara County Through February 29Median PriceSales Volume Price% Chg$/SqFt#Sold% Chg Total new homes$698,0009.

With lenders cautious, buyers reluctant and the government slow to help, Santa Clara County home sales hit new lows for February, according to DataQuick Information Systems.