Nearly 31 percent of active mortgages in a four-county area that includes Des Moines and West Des Moines were in a negative equity position as of the end of June, according to a real estate tracking company.

First American CoreLogic Inc. said 29,184 of all properties with a mortgage were worth less than the value of the loan and that a total of 38,794 were in or near a negative equity position.

Nationally, more than 15.2 million mortgages valued at $3.4 trillion were upside down, First American CoreLogic said.

The mortgages that are in negative equity in Dallas, Madison, Polk and Warren counties are valued at nearly $4.5 billion. Updated Monday, Aug. 17, with correct amount.

California led the list in terms of the total value of homes in negative equity at $969 billion, followed by Florida at $432 billion, New Jersey at $146 billion, Illinois at $146 billion and Arizona at $140 billion.