Online foreclosure marketplace RealtyTrac reported today that homes in foreclosures accounted for 31 percent of the residential sales in the first quarter of 2010. The average sales price of these properties was nearly 27 percent below the average sales price of properties not in foreclosure.

RealtyTrac expects foreclosure discounts to stay between 25 percent and 30 percent as lenders steadily release foreclosures. The average price of foreclosed properties is $171,971.

Overall, foreclosures are down 14 percent in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of 2009. They are down 33 percent from the peak during the first quarter of 2009.

Source: RealtyTrac and Bloomberg, Dan Levy (06/30/2010)