DENVER - Boulder County had the lowest foreclosure rate in the state for the first quarter of 2013 - with one completed foreclosure sale per 1,783 households.

Across Colorado, the average was about 1 completed foreclosure sale per 670 households in the first quarter, or more than double the Boulder County rate, according to a new report from the Colorado Division of Housing.

Boulder County had 124 foreclosure filings in the first quarter of 2013, a 15.6 percent drop from the 147 foreclosure filings for the same period a year earlier, according to the report. Broomfield County had 41 foreclosure filings in the first quarter of 2013, a 10.8 percent rise from the 37 for the same period a year earlier.

Separately, when it came to completed foreclosures (where a home is sold at auction) - Boulder County had 68 in the first quarter, a 29.2 percent drop from the 96 completed foreclosures in filed in the first quarter of 2012. Broomfield County had 18 in the first quarter of 2013, a 30.8 percent drop from the 26 filed in the same period a year earlier.

Statewide, there were 4,571 foreclosure filings in the first quarter, a 41.3 percent drop from the 7,785 foreclosure filings in the first quarter of 2012, according to the report. Separately, 2,935 homes were sold at auction in the first quarter a 30.5 percent drop from the 3,760 sold in the same period a year earlier.

None of the metro counties was among those that ranked in the top 10 for highest foreclosure rates, the report said.

As home prices continue to rise in 2013, foreclosure rates are expected to continue to drop, the report said. Employment growth, low mortgage rates and continued population growth in Colorado have helped stimulate demand for homes, according to the report, and other factors are expected to further push down foreclosure rates.