Foreclosure rates in Greater Des Moines increased in March from the same month last year, but have steadily declined since the first of the year, according to real estate research firm CoreLogic Inc.

The rate of foreclosures among outstanding mortgage loans was 2.71 percent in March, an increase of 0.46 percentage points from March 2010. Foreclosure activity in Greater Des Moines remained lower than the national rate of 3.57 percent.

The mortgage delinquency rate has decreased. According to CoreLogic, 4.70 percent of mortgage loans were 90 days or more delinquent compared with 4.98 percent for the same period last year. For the nation, 7.54 percent of mortgages were 90 days or more overdue.

In January, nearly 5 percent of mortgages were in default, and the foreclosure rate stood at 2.83 percent, according to CoreLogic data.