IRVINE, Calif. — State laws aimed at stemming foreclosures caused a 12% drop nationwide in mortgage defaults in September, according to RealtyTrac.

“Much of the 12% decrease in September can be attributed to changes in state laws that have at least temporarily slowed down the pace at which lenders are moving forward with foreclosures,” James J. Saccacio, chief executive officer of RealtyTrac, said yesterday.

Saccacio said antiforeclosure measures that recently took effect in California and North Carolina have had a significant impact. California's SB1137 requires lenders to make contact with borrowers at least 30 days before filing a notice of default. North Carolina now requires lenders to provide homeowners and the state's commissioners of banks 45-day notice prior to filing a notice of default.

California notices dropped 51% in September from the August numbers. California accounts for one-third of the nation's foreclosure activity each month, Saccacio said. Notices in North Carolina dropped 66% in September from the prior month.

Foreclosure filings were reported on 265,968 properties in September.