New laws giving homeowners more time and resources to get help on their mortgage payments may be slowing the rate of foreclosure filings in the Chicago area, according to the latest Woodstock Institute analysis of Chicago region foreclosure filings.

The Department of the Treasury recently released its first report card on how mortgage lenders are doing modifying loans for eligible homeowners under the government’s Making Home Affordable program. Thirteen lenders, as well as 2,300 participants with Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-insured loans, started modifications for less than the national average of 9% of eligible loans, while only seven lenders modified more than 9% of their eligible loans.