Inventories of repossessed homes surged yet again last month, indicating that lenders are working double time to take back properties from delinquent borrowers.

Foreclosure listing firm RealtyTrac Inc. revealed that the number of houses lost to foreclosure climbed 6% to 92,858 properties last month year-on-year. The figure jumped 9% from June as banks stepped up efforts to prevent more bad loans from piling up. The number of properties that received an initial default notice also increased by 1% from June to July, but declined 28% from a year ago.

Foreclosure activity in Nevada was said to be the highest among states. The Silver State received the highest foreclosure rate, with one in every 82 households receiving a foreclosure notice. According to RealtyTrac, the number of foreclosure warnings issued in Nevada jumped by almost 7% from June, but fell almost 30% from the same period last year. The states of Arizona and Florida, on the other hand, followed in second and third places, respectively.

Among cities, Las Vegas recorded the highest foreclosure rate. About one in every 71 homes received a foreclosure notice in July. The figure was said to be at least five times bigger than the national average.

However, despite the increase in the number of bank repossessed homes, RealtyTrac  said lenders are being more lenient on borrowers who are behind on their payments. They are reportedly allowing delinquent homeowners to stay in their properties longer to prevent the country’s foreclosure problems from worsening further.

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