Almost 10 percent of Texans were behind in their home loan payments during the third quarter. And about 2 percent of the state's mortgage holders were in foreclosure at the end of September, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported Thursday.

JOHN F. RHODES/DMN

A home in Lancaster was up for auction this year. More than 61,000 homes in Dallas-Fort Worth were threatened with foreclosure this year, up a record 23 percent from 2008.

The number of Texans behind on home loan payments has risen by more than one percentage point in the last year.

But the state's loan delinquency rate of 9.84 percent is still slightly behind the national average for the quarter, which is at a record 9.94 percent.

And Texas' foreclosure rate is less than half the national average.

"Despite the recession ending in midsummer, the decline in mortgage performance continues," Mortgage Bankers' economist Jay Brinkman said in the report. "Job losses continue to increase and drive up delinquencies and foreclosures."

More than 5 percent of Texas home loans were more than 90 days late at the end of September – considered the most likely to fall into foreclosure.

But with signs that the national economy is bottoming, a Texas mortgage industry leader says that the worst may be over for the state's home loan market.

"I do not expect to see higher delinquency numbers later this year," said Texas Mortgage Bankers Association vice president Scott Norman. "While employment will continue to be a leading indicator or for delinquent loans, the fact is, these numbers continue to show how much better the Texas market is faring vs. the rest of the country."

Norman said Texas is one of eight states with the lowest percentage of home loans in foreclosure.

The states with the highest total home delinquency rates in the third quarter were Mississippi, 14.4 percent; Nevada, 14 percent; and Georgia, 12.93 percent.

Florida had the highest foreclosure rate, with almost 13 percent of its home loans in foreclosure. Nevada was second with a 9.44 percent foreclosure rate.

More than a quarter of Nevada's homes with mortgages are delinquent or in foreclosure, the Mortgage Bankers' survey found.

In the Dallas-Fort Worth area, more than 61,000 homes were threatened with foreclosure this year – up 23 percent from 2008 to a record.