(Washington, DC)  --  The delinquency rate for residential mortgage loans rose to about 9.6-percent in the third quarter, breaking the second-quarter record.

   The Mortgage Bankers Association says this rate includes loans that are at least one payment past due.

   Percentages of home loans three or more months past due, in foreclosure and foreclosure starts all set new record highs in the third quarter.

   The association's chief economist Jay Brinkmann attributes this dismal news to the nation's high unemployment.

   He said 44-percent of the quarterly rise in foreclosures was from prime fixed-rate loans.

   Delinquent mortgage payments and foreclosures continue to be big problems in Florida, California, Arizona and Nevada.



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