Posted Thursday, January 3, 2013 -- 8:05 a.m.

MILWAUKEE (AP) -- The number of mortgage foreclosure filings decreased again in southeastern Wisconsin in 2012.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports there were nearly 10,500 filings in Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha counties.

That's down more than 2 percent from 2011. Court records show it's the third consecutive year there had been a decrease.

There was a 36 percent drop off in December, when there were 605 foreclosure filings in the seven-county area, compared with 946 in December 2011.

Although foreclosure filings are decreasing nationwide, they remain a drag on home sale prices in many markets.

Copyright 2013: Associated Press