Not one region in the United States was spared from the recession hit on the housing industry. Lately, though, it seems like the Northwest suburbs are being branded as the “leaders” in foreclosures. This shows a shift in trend from last year’s.

Vis-à-vis last year’s numbers, Northwest suburban Cook County shows a 55% increase in foreclosures for the first six months of 2010. This is according to nonprofit research and policy organization Woodstock Institute’s data. The same organization reflects foreclosure increases in the North, West, Southwest and South suburban Cook County as ranging from 29.2 to 35.9%.

When the housing crisis first hit the U.S., it hit the lower-income areas, colored communities, and high-risk mortgages places the hardest. But these areas have been out of commission for a long time now – probably why there have been less and less foreclosures in those communities, and more in middle- and higher-income sections.

Examples of these prime areas that are seeing more foreclosures are Palatine, Schaumburg and Streamwood. Palatine placed second in suburban Cook County for foreclosure fillings in the first half of the year. Its number of foreclosed homes jumped 94.6% from last year, totaling to 432 new foreclosures – second only to Cicero’s 541.

Palatine Village Manager Reid Ottesen points out, though, that the numbers are not reliable since the number of foreclosures can mostly be attributed to a single event: a 98-properties sale on Woods at Countryside.

Woods at Countryside is a 970-unit condominium complex on Northwest Highway and Baldwin Road. When developers began converting apartments to condominiums in 2007, that’s when the problem started. The housing crisis hit those first-time homeowners and investors who bought multiple units and were unable to unload of their purchases.

According to Ottesen, “The numbers are skewed because of one specific development and when you take away the impact of that, our foreclosures are no more than the communities around us.”

A bank-direction auction for 40 Woods at Countryside condos were done last April. Bids were down from $190,000 for a one-bedroom and $240,000 for a two-bedroom to $64,500 and $69,500 respectively.

As for Schaumburg and Streamwood, foreclosed homes in those areas are mostly single-family. In Schaumburg, number of foreclosures rose to 41.2% from last year’s.

Most residents who are now facing home loss are obtaining help via the Circuit Court of Cook County Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program, which extends free housing counseling and legal services. Granted a $3.5 million budget from the county board, the program is open to those with foreclosure summons from the Cook County Court and does not have any income restrictions.

Appointments can be done via the number (877) 895-2444 or the website cookcountyforeclosurehelp.org.