Realtytrac's monthly report has an bittersweet outlook for real estate.

Total foreclosures are down 9%, thanks to improvement in disaster areas like California and Florida. But 27 states reported rising foreclosures, with major increases in some areas. Meanwhile, bank repossessions -- the most miserable stage of the foreclosure process -- set a new monthly high in April.

The housing virus is mutating. It's hard to say if we're getting better.