From summer to autumn, the national foreclosure rate rose more than five percent. Scott County appears to be following that trend.

In Scott County, so far this year there have been 368 foreclosure sales. Last year,  there were 438 sales on foreclosed properties. That is according to the foreclosure clerk in the sheriff's department.

By the end of this year, the number of foreclosures in Scott County is expected to go well above 400.

Rick Schloemer from the Scott County Housing Council  says the foreclosures are spread out. The properties are in the inner city, and also in Bettendorf, LeClaire, Walcott, Park View and other communities.  He says unemployment is the main reason that many homeowners are falling into trouble. Several local companies have laid people off.

Nationally, foreclosure filings are on pace to reach about 3.5 million this year, up from more than 2.3 million last year.