Fewer foreclosure filings were made in January compared with the year-earlier period, MarketWatch.com reported.

According to a report released on Thursday by RealtyTrac Inc., the volume of foreclosure filings fell 17 percent last month from January 2010, but was up 1 percent from December.

“We’ve now seen three straight months with fewer than 300,000 properties receiving foreclosure filings, following 20 straight months where the total exceeded 300,000,” said James Saccacio, CEO of RealtyTrac, in a press release.

In January, one in every 497 housing units – 261,333 homes – received a foreclosure filing such as a default notice, scheduled auction or bank repossession, according to RealtyTrac.

Nevada, Arizona and California had the highest foreclosure rates.