Reports of Connecticut’s regional real estate markets surfaced over the past week, with varying results. According to CoreLogic, the BridgeportStamfordNorwalk area of Fairfield County experienced a year-to-year drop in foreclosures, decreasing from 4.98 percent in April 2012 to 4.3 percent in April 2013.

Nevertheless, while the improvement is a positive sign for a region negatively impacted by Hurricane Sandy, Fairfield County’s foreclosure rate is below the national average of 2.65 percent.

Short sales, as well, may be offsetting foreclosure figures. Raul Villacis, CEO of Advantage Realty in Stamford, said to the Connecticut Post: “I have 80 percent of the market share in foreclosures in the county, and I’ve seen a 50 percent decrease in bank-owned property in the last 12 months. Banks are looking to do short sales rather than foreclose.”

Connecticut’s overall foreclosure rates increased year to year, however. According to figures RealtyTrac, Inc. published in April 2013, statewide foreclosure activity increased 32 percent and actual foreclosures went up 15 percent from 2012 to 2013. Nationally, both actual foreclosures and foreclosure activity decreased 23 percent during this time.

On the other side of the state, Eastern Connecticut has its ups and downs. The Norwich Bulletin reported that the percentage of residential properties underwater for the region increased to 16.3 percent for the first quarter of 2013. However, this figure is still lower than the national average of 19.8 percent.

But even with more properties underwater, the two counties composing the region saw home prices increase on average, according to figures from the Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors. Specifically, prices for single-family homes increased 15.2 percent and during the second quarter compared to a year ago. Year-to-year median home prices rose 4.4 percent, as well.

While, The Day points out, New London County saw more decreases compared to Windham County and the region still has a significant percentage of foreclosures and bank-owned properties on the market, sales for condominiums and mobile homes increased over the past year.