I've written about the predicted surge in foreclosure filings this summer as banks step up their house cleaning.Is this the beginning of that? From Foreclosuresdaily.com:

437 foreclosure filings in Pinellas County from May 1-May 15, 2009.

1,613 filings from May 15-May 27, 2009.

St. Petersburg real estate attorney Matt Weidner, who provided the numbers, suggests a benign explanation for the surge in filings. A bill expected to become law in Florida raises fees for lenders filing foreclosures. Here's the details:

The original $295 foreclosure fee will be increased according to values of the properties being foreclosed. For foreclosure properties worth below $50,000, the fee will be $395. For properties valued from $50,000 to $250,000, the fee will be $900. Properties worth more than $250,000 will require $1,900 to file.

The fee changes lead me to believe the filing surge is anticipatory and doesn't reflect a sudden rash of mortgage default.