Many homeowners are experiencing tough times with the slowing of the real estate market and the rise of adjustable rate mortgages. August reported the second highest foreclosure total for this year. Approximately 117,000 homes entered foreclosure. "In August, 115,292 properties entered into foreclosure, according to RealtyTrac, an online marketplace for foreclosure sales. That was 24 percent above the level in July and 53 percent higher than a year earlier. Rick Sharga, Realty Trac's vice president of marketing, says the rising foreclosure numbers are in part the result of rising monthly payments on adjustable-rate mortgages, which have a low introductory interest rate that heads higher after an initial period. Usually, foreclosures are a lagging [market] indicator," he says. "But we've never had a situation like this with adjustable-rate mortgages amounting to $400 billion to $500 billion coming up for adjustment over the rest of the year." The full article will be available on the Web for a limited time: www.money.cnn.com/2006/09/13/real_estate/foreclosures_spiking/index.htm?postversion=2006091314 Pam