A new study found that there are fewer homeowners heading into foreclosure

A study done by TransUnion reveals that the credit demand and the rate of delinquency in mortgage loans fell in 4Q, indicating a positive direction in 2011. In addition, this was the fourth consecutive quarter in which credit demand and the rate of delinquency in mortgage loans fell.

TransUnion’s data shows the Texas delinquency rate at 5.19 percent, below the national average of 6.44 percent.

The rate of delinquency in mortgage loans has decreased.

However, TransUnion is concerned about the slowdown in the rate at which delinquency rates have dropped.

“Although the increase in January’s consumer confidence index is good news for the consumer as well as the fourth quarter GDP number of 3.2 percent, real estate prices …. have been consistently falling since the end of second quarter,” Tim Martin, TransUnion group vice president of the U.S. housing market, said. “What we hoped was a temporary third quarter price adjustment due to the ending of the home buyer tax credit appears now to be more systemic.”

Due to the continued stabilization of the market overall, however, this is still considered good news for real estate professionals.