IRVINE, Calif. – RealtyTrac's latest foreclosure numbers for the first quarter 2006 are out, and the data show Indianapolis, Atlanta, Dallas, Memphis and Denver in the top five spots, and Sun and Rust Belt cities dominating the remaining spots.

RealtyTrac's annual 2006 U.S. Metropolitan Foreclosure Market Report ranks the foreclosure rates of the top 100 metropolitan areas. The company publishes the largest national database of pre-foreclosure properties with more than 600,000 properties in more than 2,500 counties in the U.S.

RealtyTrac CEO James Saccario observed that most of the cities with the highest foreclosure rates have above-average unemployment rates and below-average home price appreciation. Unemployment, he said, is a major reason why homeowners stop making mortgage payments, and slow home appreciation can make it harder for homeowners in default to refinance or sell to stop foreclosure.