Byline: Linda Rawls

Oct. 4--Growing numbers of local homeowners were forced into foreclosure last month -- or chose to default -- as the worst housing crisis in 16 years continued to take its toll.

In Palm Beach County, lenders foreclosed on 1,196 homes last month, up from 509 in September 2006, according to the county clerk's office. That's a 135 percent increase, and a rate of one foreclosure for every 518 households in Palm Beach County, based on population reported in the Census Bureau's latest American Community Survey.

"You can realize your dreams but you have to learn to live within your budget," said housing analyst Jack McCabe, chief executive of McCabe ...