WEST PALM BEACH — Foreclosure filings in Palm Beach County nearly tripled in 2007 compared with the previous year, according to figures from the Palm Beach County clerk's office.

There were 13,962 filings in 2007, compared with 4,831 in 2006, the figures show.

The number of filings rose steadily throughout both years, starting with 247 filings in January 2006, and ending with 1,644 filings in December 2007.

A mortgage crisis that produced tightened credit, adjustable rate-loan resets that produced higher mortgage payments and the end of the housing-boom, which produced falling home prices, saw many borrowers become "upside down." This meant they owed more than their houses were worth, making it impossible to avoid foreclosure by selling.

Most housing experts expect things to get v en worse, before they get better. Late last month, National Association of Home Builders chief economist David Seiders said rather than bringing an end to the worst housing slump in 16 years, 2008 will simply be "another down year." "We really are in a danger zone," Seiders said. "We'll be looking at further erosion in house values in 2008 and hit bottom in 2009." Seiders said a heavy backlog of unsold homes is a major factor in the currently stalled housing market. Sellers aren't selling and buyers aren't buying.

"The essential story here," Seiders said, "is a major run-up in unsold inventory during the second half of 2005, through 2006 and into 2007.

"There are currently 2.1 million vacant homes for sale on the market,' he added, "with 700,000 being excess compared to more normal times." Subprime lenders went belly-up, Seiders said, "and it cascaded down from there."