On a quarterly basis, the San Bernardino-Riverside county area ranks even worse. RealtyTrac said in late April that the area is No. 2 nationwide in foreclosure filings for the first quarter of 2008.

“That’s really all we’re looking at lately is bank-owned properties and short sales,” said Jack Ritoli, broker-owner of Chino Hills-based Southern California Realty Associates. 

Ritoli represents buyers and sellers throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties.

While several experts predict the bleeding real-estate market will shape up in 2010 or even 2011, Ritoli feels the market will start to heal by mid-2009.

Some would say he’s overly optimistic. Nevertheless, “the foreclosure is a thing we have to get used to now,” Ritoli said. “A lot of people moved to the Inland Empire from L.A. and Orange County, but they bit off more than they can chew."