An alarmingly high number of foreclosure deeds were recorded in New Hampshire during the month of December. But the totals for 2011 were still lower than the previous year, according to the N.H. Housing Finance Authority.

The latest foreclosure update indicates there were 368 foreclosure deeds recorded in the state in December, up from 273 in November. It was the highest number of foreclosure deeds recorded in December since the housing crisis began.

The year’s total of 3,863 foreclosure deeds was 2 percent lower than the record-breaking total from 2010. But that’s partly because mortgage servicers have allowed an extended period of delinquency prior to foreclosure due to delays in document processing, as well as hopes that the market will soon improve.

“There continue to be significant numbers of New Hampshire households that are delinquent on their mortgage,” the report states.