Despite billions of dollars in government subsidies, Tampa Bay mortgage lenders are filing foreclosures as fast as they did a year ago.

Tampa Bay reported 4,404 new foreclosure lawsuits last month, little changed from the 4,439 initial foreclosure filings in January 2009. The numbers come from California real estate company RealtyTrac, which predicts a rise in mortgage defaults as 2010 progresses.

The federal $8,000 first-time home buyer tax credit helped buyers mop up homes destined for foreclosure auction, but it didn't prevent banks from seeking foreclosure in the first place.

"If history repeats itself, we will see a surge in the numbers over the next few months as lenders foreclose on delinquent loans where neither the existing loan modification programs or the new short sale and deed-in-lieu of foreclosure alternatives works," RealtyTrac chief executive James Saccacio said.

Tampa Bay's total foreclosure filings in January were 6,081, up 5 percent from December but down 2.2 percent from January 2009. Florida reported 47,069 filings, 28,887 of which were fresh foreclosure cases.

The region's overall foreclosure rate was 1 out of 217 households. Rates were lower in Pinellas and Pasco counties and higher in Hernando and Hillsborough counties.