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BACKUS - More Cass County homesteaded properties but fewer cabins went into foreclosure the third quarter this year than in 2009.

Cass County Assessor Mark Peterson reported Tuesday to the county board that 35 properties went into foreclosure the third quarter this year, compared with 33 last year.

The value of properties foreclosed remained at about 10 for those under $100,000 and about a dozen for those worth $100,000 to $200,000, but the number valued at $200,000 to $400,000 more than doubled from five to 11. Only one property worth over $400,000 went into foreclosure this year, compared with five in 2009.

The number of properties sold in Cass County has run less than half each of the last three years of the number sold in 2005 and 2006. New construction also is down significantly, Peterson said, running about 30 percent less than the prior year in value.

Peak months for sales so far this year were June when 71 properties sold and August when 69 sold.

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