Another provider of national credit data reported today that mortgage delinquencies have been falling during the first half of the year, suggesting that the housing sector is beginning to stabilize.

TransUnion’s latest quarterly analysis found that delinquencies over 60 days decreased again in the second quarter to a level of 6.67 percent – only marginally lower than in the first quarter of this year.

This statistic reflects a decrease of 1.48 percent from the previous quarter’s 6.77 percent national average. Year over year, mortgage borrower delinquency is still up approximately 14.8 percent (from 5.81 percent in the second quarter 2009).

Mortgage borrower delinquency rates in the second quarter of 2010 continued to be highest in Nevada (15.86 percent) and Florida (15.02 percent), while the lowest mortgage delinquency rates continued to be found in North Dakota (1.61 percent), South Dakota (2.23 percent) and Nebraska (2.61 percent). Twelve states showed increases in delinquency from the previous quarter with Rhode Island (+4.63 percent), New Mexico (+4.45 percent) and Washington (+3.39 percent) leading the pack.

Measures of later-stage mortgage delinquency, such as the ratio of borrowers 90 or 120 or more days past due, provide additional positive news. For the first time since before the recession began in 2007, these later-state delinquencies rates have now both declined nationally from where they were last quarter.

The average national mortgage debt per borrower again decreased (0.77 percent) to $191,284 from the previous quarter’s $192,774. On a year-over-year basis, the second quarter 2010 average represents a 1.3 percent decrease over the second quarter 2009 average mortgage debt per borrower level of $193,811. The area with the highest average mortgage debt per borrower continued to be the District of Columbia at $366,627, followed by California at $345,502 and Hawaii at $311,130. The lowest average mortgage debt per borrower remained in West Virginia at $99,206. Quarter over quarter, Vermont showed the greatest percentage increase in mortgage debt (+2.1 percent), followed by New Mexico (+1.96 percent) and North Dakota (+0.65 percent). Areas showing the largest percentage drop in average mortgage debt were Nevada (-3.12 percent), Arizona (-3.0 percent) and Florida (-1.80 percent).

On a year-over-year basis at a national level, mortgage originations dropped almost 50 percent. The drop was across all states, with the smallest decline in year-over-year originations seen in North Dakota (-26.8 percent) and Arkansas (-31.4 percent). Idaho and Wisconsin experienced the steepest year-over-year declines (-58.7 percent and -58.6 percent, respectively).

“The second quarter decline in mortgage delinquency gives further credence to the notion that the credit market is stabilizing. Although this is good news for the consumer, the economy is still burdened by high unemployment, upcoming ARM resets and a glut of foreclosures,” said FJ Guarrera, vice president in TransUnion’s financial services business unit.

“The dynamics inside the mortgage market are changing. It is ironic that, with record-setting low interest rates, a large inventory of homes and low home prices, this is one of the most affordable times to buy a house within the last 50 years — yet most consumers are not considering a home purchase the investment opportunity it was considered in the past. Add to that irony and concurrent with these near perfect consumer buying conditions, tighter lending standards and increased documentation scrutiny have made it difficult for many consumers to qualify for a mortgage.”

Just as mortgage delinquency trends differ between the national and state economies, metropolitan areas also showed different movements in the second quarter of this year. Sixty-two percent of the metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) showed a decrease in their 60-day mortgage delinquency rates since last quarter, as compared to a 59 percent between the fourth quarter of last year and first quarter of 2010.

Changes are even more significant in later stage delinquency measures. Sixty-four percent of all MSAs showed a decrease in their 90-day mortgage delinquency measure as compared to only 45 percent from the previous period. Furthermore, the percentage of MSAs showing a decline in their 120-day delinquency ratio almost doubled from the previous quarter-over-quarter levels.

“TransUnion believes that the 60-day mortgage delinquency rate will likely continue to drift downward in 2010, possibly nearing 6.4 percent nationally by the end of the year. Note that this forecast is based on various economic assumptions, including the assumption that both real estate values and the unemployment picture will improve gradually. This forecast would certainly change if there are unanticipated shocks to the economy affecting the recovery in the housing market,” said Guarrera.

With regard to regional forecasts, Florida is again anticipated to experience the highest mortgage delinquency rate by the end of 2010, reaching as high as 16.2 percent. North Dakota is still expected to continue to exhibit the lowest mortgage delinquency by year-end with a rate of 1.5 percent.