There were nearly 100 fewer foreclosures in 2012 compared to the previous year.

Kathy Ludenia, Crow Wing County recorder, recently reported the latest foreclosure data.

There were 273 foreclosures in the county in 2012, down 96 from those in 2011 and down 115 from the record high recorded in 2010.

In December, there were 17 sheriff’s certificates, or foreclosures. The end of 2012 is a marked decrease to previous years. In December of 2011, there were 29 foreclosures and in 2010 there were 26 during the last month of the year.

And the number of notices of pendency, which indicate a foreclosure is in the works, were 30 for this past December.

During the past two years, the pending December foreclosures were in the mid 40s.

“We’ll hope to continue our annual downward trend in 2013,” Ludenia stated. “For sheriff’s certificates, we need to see a monthly average of less than 23 to stay under our 2012 numbers.”

Foreclosures by year:

■ 2012 — 273.

■ 2011 — 369.

■ 2010 — 388.

■ 2009 — 352.

■ 2008 — 356.

■ 2007 — 231.

■ 2006 — 142.

■ 2005 — 101.

■ 2004 — 68.

■ 2003 — 63.

■ 2002 — 60.

■ 2001 — 39.

■ 2000 — 43.

The number of notices of pendency, or pending foreclosures, has been dropping since 2009 and this past year finally dipped below 2007’s numbers.

Notices of pendency by year:

■ 2012 — 410.

■ 2011 — 479.

■ 2010 — 590.

■ 2009 — 645.

■ 2008 — 578.

■ 2007 — 427.

RENEE RICHARDSON, senior reporter, may be reached at 855-5852 or renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Dispatchbizbuzz.