Florida’s 40,770 properties receiving foreclosure filings in January was the second highest total of any state, according to a new report by RealtyTrac, an Irvine, Calif-based foreclosure listing service.  Florida posted the nation’s fourth highest state foreclosure rate, with one in every 214 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing during the month.

“January REOs, which represent completed foreclosure sales to the foreclosing lender, were down 15 percent nationwide from the previous month. And, in Florida, overall foreclosure activity was down 20 percent from the previous month,” said James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac.

Two Florida cities posted foreclosure rates among the top 10 metro foreclosure rates: Cape Coral-Fort Myers at No. 3, with one in every 80 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing, and Port St. Lucie at No. 9 with one in every 123 housing units receiving a foreclosure filing.

In Duval County there was one foreclosure filing for every 284 homes, down 26 percent from December and up 4 percent from a year earlier. Foreclosures in Clay County fell 65 percent from December and 46 percent from a year ago. In St. Johns County foreclosures were down 36 percent from December and up 67 percent from a year ago. Nassau County foreclosures were up 11 percent from December and 62 percent from a year ago.

This week, The Office of Thrift Supervision, which regulates federal savings institutions, urged banks under its umbrella to suspend foreclosures on owner-occupied homes until the U.S. Treasury Department’s home-modification plan is finalized.

“OTS-regulated institutions would be supporting the national imperative to combat the economic crisis by suspending foreclosures until the new plan takes hold, said OTS Director John Reich in a statement.