Foreclosures statewide were up 11 percent over last year through September, but the numbers will probably be pretty close to 2008 by year's end, according to Jane Law of New Hampshire Housing.

"It's not over yet, although we think we have hit bottom," Law said Friday. "I think economists around the state and around the country agree we have seen the bottom. But it may be a slow climb up."

In Rockingham County, the picture is much the same.

Through Oct. 31 this year, there have been 581 foreclosures in the county. For the same time last year, there were 630 foreclosures. Foreclosures in the county totaled 752 in 2008, a number Rockingham County register Cathy Stacey expects to be pretty close to this year's totals when all numbers are in and accounted for.

"It's pretty neck in neck. It's still steady," Stacey said last week. "We haven't seen a real big reduction, but hope we will soon."

The monthly average for the county this year is just over 58 foreclosures, with April the worst with 70 and July the lowest with 44. The biggest towns in the county tend to have the highest numbers, including Derry with 93 foreclosures this year so far and Salem with 55.

The numbers may not be great, but they could to be worse.

"To me, it says that New Hampshire families are still struggling, as are many people in the country," Law said. "New Hampshire is still as not as bad off as other states."

Regionally, New Hampshire is about in the middle of the situation in New England.

"From what I understand, New Hampshire is not the best off and not the worst off in New England," Law said.

So, while economists seem to agree the worst is over, no one's saying the recovery is going to be a quick one.

"They're expecting slower job growth out of this recession — the mortgage market, the employment situation — they're all looking at a very slow curve upward, rather than a steep incline," Law said.

Things may look a little better early in 2010, but Law said that's just one of the regular cycles housing experts see. After people file their tax returns, they tend to get caught up on their mortgages, she said, so a slight improvement early in the year can likely be attributed to that.

She was optimistic the numbers will improve, but emphasized that upward climb will be slow.

"I think we're looking at a year, maybe a little more," Law said. "Hopefully, things will be getting better over that year or year-plus."

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Rockingham County foreclosures

2009: 581* (through Oct. 31)

2008: 752

2007: 477

2006: 253

2004: 75

2002: 53

2000: 89

1998: 227

1996: 447

Source: Rockingham County Registry of Deeds

Statewide foreclosures

2005: 462

2006: 1,057

2007: 2,071

2008: 3,563

2009: 2,543 (through Sept. 30)

Source: New Hampshire Housing