Here's how Florida most affected cities fared. With 11.87 percent of its housing units receiving a foreclosure notice  in 2009, Cape Coral-Fort Myers documented the nation's second highest (right behind Las Vegas) metro foreclosure rate. Other Florida  cities in the top 10 were Orlando-Kissimmee at No. 7 (8.17 percent), Port St.  Lucie at No. 9 (7.58 percent), and Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach at No. 10 (7.16 percent).

RealtyTrac CEO James J. Saccacio states that the Big Four -- California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona -- still dominate the highest foreclkosure activity but foreclosure increases are spreading elsewhere:

"There is evidence that we're  entering a new wave of foreclosures, driven more by unemployment and economic  hardship than what we've seen over the past few years. Areas like Provo, Utah, Fayetteville,  Ark., Portland,  Ore., and Rockford,  Ill., all posted foreclosure rates above the U.S. average in  2009.

"And markets like Honolulu, Minneapolis and Seattle saw  foreclosure activity increase at more than twice the national pace over the  past 12 months - although all three of those markets still had 2009 foreclosure  rates that were at or below the U.S.  average."

So where is the Tampa Bay metro area in this notorious national ranking? A lot better off than Cape Coral and Orlando, but looking lousy when compared with Gainesville and Tallahassee. We ranked No. 22 with 4.77 percent, or 1 of every 21 housing units, in some phase of foreclosure.

Click here for the complete national list of 200 metro areas. But below is how Florida metro areas fared overall in 2009, according to RealtyTrac.

Each metro area is shown by 2009 national rank, percentage of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every X housing units, and percentage change from 2008.

No. 2: Cape Coral-Fort Myers, 11.87% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 8 housing units affected, up 4.13% from 2008

No. 7: Orlando-Kissimmee, 8.17% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 12 housing units affected, up 54.01% from 2008.

No. 9: Port St. Lucie, 7.58% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 13 housing units affected, up 21.52% from 2008.

No. 10: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, 7.16% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 14 housing units affected, up 43.50% from 2008.

No. 13: Naples-Marco Island, 6.38% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 16 housing units affected, up 31.15% from 2008.

No. 16: Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond  Beach, 5.32% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 19 housing units affected, up 49.25% from 2008.

No. 17: Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice, 5.26% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 19 housing units affected, up 18.84% from 2008.

No. 18: Lakeland, 51.9% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 19 housing units affected, up 40.52% from 2008.

No. 21: Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, 4.78% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 21 housing units affected, up 23.47% from 2008.

No. 22: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, 4.77% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 21 housing units affected, up 16.95% from 2008.

No. 25: Ocala, 4.58% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 22 housing units affected, up 39.67% from 2008.

No. 26: Jacksonville, 4.53% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 22 housing units affected, up 55.87% from 2008.

No. 44: Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, 2,85% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 35 housing units affected, up 34% from 2008.

No. 68: Gainesville, 2.08% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 48 housing units affected, up 81.38% from 2008.

No. 82: Tallahassee, 1.72% of housing in foreclosure pipeline, 1 of every 58 housing units affected, up 50.80% from 2008.

-- Robert Trigaux, Times Business Columnist