A.V. FORECLOSURES RESUME UPWARD TREND : 1,650 HOMES REPOSSESSED DURING FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1996.

Byline: Jim Skeen Daily News Staff Writer

After a brief respite, Antelope Valley foreclosures are on the rise again in 1996 and appear headed for record levels, according to statistics released this week.

There were 1,650 foreclosures recorded in the Antelope Valley in the first six months of this year compared with 1,525 at the same point in 1995.

The value of the 1996 foreclosures was $160.9 million compared with $183.6 million for the first six months of 1995, according to statistics compiled by TRW REDI Property Data, a nationwide real estate tracking firm based in Yorba Linda.

After rising to record levels beginning in 1991, the number of Antelope Valley foreclosures eased slightly last year, dropping 1.2 percent compared with 1994. At the current pace, this year's foreclosures will easily top the record 3,068 foreclosures in 1994.

``So many people have tried for so long to hang on, and now they've given up,'' said Bob Schaff, a past president of the Antelope Valley Board of Realtors. ``This is the last big group of foreclosures.''

According to figures released last week by Dataquick Information Systems of La Jolla, the state's residential foreclosure rate for the quarter was 22 percent higher than a year ago, in part due to a recent policy by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to speed up the foreclosure process.

Competition from foreclosed homes is a major reason in the decline of new home sales in the Antelope Valley, analysts say.

New home sales dropped 25 percent during a three-month period beginning in late February of this year compared with the same period last year, according to The Meyers Group, a Los Angeles firm that tracks real estate.

But real estate and building company officials say things might be changing at long last. Home builders say people seem to feel more secure about avoiding layoffs, Lockheed Martin ``Skunk Works'' will be adding jobs, and the overall California economy seems to be picking up.

``Lately, we're seeing just a different attitude in the people, a very positive attitude,'' said builder Herb Hirsh.

Schaff predicted the Antelope Valley market would pick up as home prices climb in the Santa Clarita Valley to the point where there is a $100,000 price difference for the same type of home.

``We're almost to that point now,'' Schaff said. ``We're heading for a good '97.''

Three new residential tracts opened for sale this weekend in Palmdale, the first time so many have opened simultaneously in three or four years.

Centex Homes is opening a 46-home lot development with prices of $135,000 to $160,000 in west Palmdale on Tierra Subida Road south of Palmdale Boulevard.

Regency Estates is opening a 41-home tract with prices from $139,900 to $177,900 at 62nd Street West and Avenue M. And Overland Co. and Harwood Homes are opening up their 56-home Greenbrier tract with prices of $129,990 to $159,990 off Avenue P at Division Street.

``There's actually a turnaround,'' said Bob Shack, president of the Antelope Valley Building Industry Association.

Once the uncertainty caused by the approaching presidential election is over - no matter who wins - Shack expects even more home building.

``There's a lot of people looking for land that is buildable,'' he said. ``After the election I think you're going to see some real upswing going on in the Antelope Valley.''

Another local expert predicts foreclosures will continue at a brisk pace for at least another year or two, because so many homes have dropped so greatly in value, although he thinks home prices will stabilize.

``We are adding jobs - that is what is stabilizing the market,'' Ron Halcrow, a professor of economics at Antelope Valley College, said.

TRW REDI began tracking Antelope Valley foreclosures in 1988. In that year there were 380 foreclosures with a value of $26.7 million.

In 1989, there were 250 foreclosures with a value of $19.5 million. The following year there were 195 foreclosures with a value of $38.8 million.

Then the Antelope Valley was hit by defense cuts and recession. In 1991 there were 670 foreclosures with a value of $146.1 million. Foreclosures jumped in 1992 to 1,573 with a value of $232.2 million.

In 1993, 2,799 foreclosures were valued at $428.4 million. In 1994, there were 3,068 foreclosures recorded with a total value of $480.4 million.

In 1995, there were 3,031 foreclosures with a total value of $330.8 million.