Property data curator ATTOM released its July 2023 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 31,877 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings, down 9 percent from a month ago but up 5 percent year-over-year.
“The slight decline in foreclosure filings we are seeing is yet another sign of a rebounding housing market,” Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM, said in a release. “With home prices back up, several factors have combined to put more financial resources in the hands of homeowners, providing more options to avoid foreclosure. However, given with the U.S. housing market remains in flux, the various forces at play could keep the market improving or turn it back downward over the coming months.”
Nationwide, one in every 4,380 housing units had a foreclosure filing in July. States with the highest foreclosure rates were Maryland (one in every 2,071 housing units with a foreclosure filing); New Jersey (one in every 2,335 housing units); Delaware (one in every 2,343); Illinois (one in every 2,430); and South Carolina (one in every 2,511).
Among the 223 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000, those with the highest foreclosure rates in July 2023 were Fayetteville, N.C. (one in every 1,367 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Atlantic City, N.J. (one in every 1,708 housing units); Columbia, S.C. (one in every 1,747); Trenton, N.J. (one in every 1,870); and Cleveland (one in every 1,957).
Those metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million with the worst foreclosure rates in July 2023, including Cleveland, were: Baltimore, (one in every 1,991 housing units); Las Vegas (one in every 2,098); Jacksonville, Fla. (one in every 2,243); and Philadelphia (one in every 2,273).
Lenders started the foreclosure process on 21,020 U.S. properties in July, down 12 percent from last month and down 2 percent from a year ago.
States that saw the greatest monthly declines and had 10 or more foreclosure starts in July 2023 included: Hawaii (down 51 percent); New Hampshire (down 45 percent); Idaho (down 43 percent); Arkansas (down 40 percent); and Alabama (down 38 percent).
Those major metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million that saw the greatest monthly declines in foreclosure starts in July 2023 included: Salt Lake City (down 63 percent); Honolulu (down 53 percent); Kansas City, Mo. (down 46 percent); Rochester, N.Y. (down 43 percent); and Birmingham, Ala. (down 41 percent).
Lenders repossessed 3,332 U.S. properties through completed foreclosures (REOs) in July, up 4 percent from last month and up 9 percent from last year.
States that had the greatest number of REOs in July included: Illinois (355 REOs); Pennsylvania (230 REOs); California (217 REOs); Michigan (200 REOs); and Texas (200 REOs).
Those major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with a population greater than 1 million that saw the greatest number of REOs in July 2023 included: Chicago (233 REOs); New York (148 REOs); St. Louis (104 REOs); Baltimore (82 REOs); and Philadelphia (80 REOs).