Amador County – There were 35 foreclosures in Amador County during the fourth quarter of 2008, marking a consistent downward trend within the last three months. According to La Jolla- based housing research company DataQuick, foreclosures in the capitol region fell to their lowest levels in a year during the last three months of 2008. But researchers approach this trend with cautious optimism when considering that statewide defaults were back up to 39,993- approximately the same level they had been at during the months of March through August. Fourth quarter foreclosures in Amador, Nevada, Placer, El Dorado, Sacramento, Sutter, Yolo and Yuba counties were at 4,413, down 7,796 in the third quarter. Statewide, there were 237, 131 foreclosures in 2008. DataQuick analysts believe the temporary foreclosure drop may be due to a state law passed in September that forced lenders to keep people in their homes. Federal mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie May also passed moratoriums on foreclosures through the first quarter of this year. According to one local real estate expert, realtors are bracing for a second smaller but still significant wave of foreclosures to hit the area soon. There are a growing number of short sales in the Sacramento area, which some real estate trackers warn is a sign of more foreclosures to come. Story by Alex Lane (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.).