Legal Filings

Foreclosure Filings

32.0% — up from 9% a year ago, with no sign of the surge reversing

What is the current Foreclosure Filings?

FORECLOSURE FILINGS
32% ↑ Worsening
properties with foreclosure filings
One year ago
9% ↑ Worsening
up 23.0 points since Q1 2025

Foreclosure filings rose 32% year-over-year in Q1 2026, according to ATTOM Data Solutions — the strongest quarterly increase since the post-moratorium rebound of 2022. This follows three consecutive quarters of rising filings after a period of declines, marking a clear trend reversal from the near-zero pandemic-era floor. The pipeline from FHA delinquency (11.52%) through formal proceedings is now active and accelerating. Source: ATTOM Data Solutions (Q1 2026).

After years of pandemic-era suppression, foreclosure activity has turned decisively upward.

Foreclosure filings rose 32% year-over-year in Q1 2026, according to ATTOM Data Solutions — the strongest quarterly increase since the post-moratorium rebound of 2022. This follows three consecutive quarters of rising filings after a period of declines, marking a clear trend reversal. The pandemic-era moratoriums and historically low mortgage rates had pushed foreclosure activity to near-zero; that floor has now given way.

The pipeline from mortgage distress to foreclosure is visible in The FHA Signal, which shows FHA delinquency at 11.52% — the highest since 2021. FHA borrowers, who typically have smaller equity cushions and fewer financial reserves, are the first to transition from delinquency to formal proceedings. As these filings convert to completed foreclosures, they appear in housing inventory data and neighborhood price effects over the following 12–18 months.

The current level is still far below the crisis peak, when foreclosure filings were running 80–180% above prior years. But the direction matters more than the magnitude at this stage. Bankruptcy Filings are up 20% year-over-year, and The Wipeout Ratio shows Chapter 7 liquidations outpacing Chapter 13 reorganizations at the widest margin since 2022. When families choose total liquidation over restructuring, it suggests the financial damage is too deep to reorganize around.

Source: ATTOM Data Solutions · Latest: 2026-Q1

Explore Further

Is this happening to you?

Have you received any notices from your mortgage servicer that worried you?

How has Foreclosure Filings changed over time?

CSV Chart Card
Foreclosure Filings over time
U.S. foreclosure filings, total properties
Foreclosure Filings
Historical data
Quarterly · ATTOM Data Solutions
Period Value YoY Change
Q1 2026 32% +23.0 pts
Q4 2025 14% +20.0 pts
Q3 2025 20% +39.0 pts
Q2 2025 13.9% +17.9 pts
Q1 2025 9% +19.0 pts
Q4 2024 -6% −4.0 pts
Q3 2024 -19% −34.0 pts
Q2 2024 -4% −18.0 pts
Q1 2024 -10% −20.0 pts
Q4 2023 -2% −74.0 pts
Q3 2023 15% −47.0 pts
Q2 2023 14% −171.0 pts

Frequently Asked Questions

How much have foreclosure filings increased?

Foreclosure filings rose 32% year-over-year in Q1 2026, according to ATTOM Data Solutions. This follows three consecutive quarters of rising filings, marking a clear trend reversal from the pandemic-era suppression that pushed foreclosure activity to near zero.

Is the U.S. heading for another foreclosure crisis like 2008?

Current levels remain far below crisis peaks, when filings were running 80–180% above prior years. However, the direction of the trend matters more than the absolute level at this early stage. The pipeline from FHA delinquency (11.52%) through formal proceedings is active, and the transition from delinquency to completed foreclosure typically takes 12–18 months.

Which borrowers are most at risk of foreclosure?

FHA borrowers show the most distress, with an 11.52% delinquency rate — nearly four times the conventional rate. FHA borrowers typically have smaller equity cushions and fewer financial reserves, making them the first to transition from delinquency to foreclosure.

How long does the foreclosure process take?

The timeline varies by state. In non-judicial foreclosure states like California and Texas, it can take as little as 120 days. In judicial states like New York and New Jersey, the process can take a year or more. As filings convert to completed foreclosures, they appear in housing inventory and neighborhood price data over the following 12–18 months.

Where does foreclosure filing data come from?

ATTOM Data Solutions tracks foreclosure filings from county recorder offices nationwide, including default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions. Data is published quarterly and includes year-over-year comparisons.

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Why does Foreclosure Filings matter?

Foreclosure Filings is one of 91 indicators in the American Distress Index's legal filings layer — the signal that predicted the 2008 crisis two years before delinquency data confirmed it.
View methodology →
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