With all the bad news in the real estate market today, there’s a ray of hope shining in Massachusetts.

While the number of foreclosure petitions filed is rising, finalized mortgage foreclosures are declining across the state.

Statistics compiled by the Boston-based Warren Group, a provider of real-estate data, revealed that so far this year, 385 foreclosures have been finalized in Massachusetts. That’s down from the 582 completed this time last year. In June of this year, a total of 41.67 percent less foreclosures were finalized than in June of 2008.

The number of petitions being filed, however, rose 46.96 percent this year. So far, 169 have been filed through June; although, only 115 were filed last year at the same time.

According to Hampden County Bar Association Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention Task Force Chairman Eugene B. Berman, many lenders delayed foreclosures earlier this year due to the transition to the Obama administration. In addition, interest rates were still climbing for some homeowner’s adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) and unemployment was making it difficult for some homeowners to keep up with their payments.

Hampden County Register of Deeds Donald E. Ashe stated that many homeowners have been saving their homes by paying arrears after the petition is filed or obtaining modification mortgage loans. Others are selling their homes to prevent foreclosure.

Total fees collected, as shown in the release of Ashe’s annual report, fell 20.6 percent from this time last year. They went from $16.6 million to $13.2 million. The report revealed that the figure for documents filed in his office dropped from 97,336 to 84,481. That’s a 13 percent reduction.

Ashe noted an increase of revenue from recording subdivision plans. He took it as a positive sign that there is a 6 percent increase to $27,800, up from $26,300 last year.

There are also encouraging signs in the Franklin County Registry of Deeds office. Registrar Joseph A. Gochinski noted that total fees his office has collected this year were significantly less than last year — $2.27 million in the 2009 fiscal year compared to $2.52 million last year. Less

Total fees collected in Hampshire County remained constant at $2.2 million for both fiscal years.

With all the foreclosure filings, HAP Housing, along with the State of Massachusetts sponsored a workshop for homeowners who were facing foreclosure. It gave them an opportunity to meet with mortgage lenders to discuss their different options. Click Massachusetts Foreclosures to see even more information.