The last several months of 2011 saw a slow down in new foreclosure filings, but not because things were getting better. Lenders were trying to clean up the “robo signing” mess, even though California’s foreclosures weren’t directly involved in that scandal.

Some states (like Florida) are judicial foreclosure states, meaning every foreclosure must be done through the court, whereas California’s foreclosure process is done through a defined process established by statute.

Some believe the rate of foreclosures may pick up in 2012. However, this week a coalition of state Attorney Generals are close to a deal with the nation’s largest lenders to provide mortgage relief (loan mods with principle reductions) which may slow down the number of foreclosures – and boost the values of real estate.

Here’s the data:

Monthly graph – last 12 months

Quarterly graph since 2006 ending Q4 2011