The weak economy continues to fortify housing foreclosures in the Tampa Bay area. Foreclosure filings in May rose 33 percent year over year in Pinellas, Pasco, Hillsborough and Hernando counties, the firm RealtyTrac said. About 6,841 properties received foreclosure notices in May versus 5,151 a year earlier. Among the biggest foreclosure states, Florida, with 58,931 filings, came in second behind California. The Tampa Bay area's foreclosure rate was 1 out of every 192 households, lower than the state's rate of 1 out of every 148 households. Foreclosures were up slightly in May over April. County-by-county foreclosure totals were 2,458 in Pinellas, 1,500 in Pasco, 2,408 in Hillsborough and 475 in Hernando. The numbers don't necessarily mean the homes were repossessed. In most cases, homeowners received notice that banks were starting foreclosure proceedings. The process often takes up to a year.