ATTOM released its February 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 38,840 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings, down 4 percent from a month ago and up 20 percent from a year ago.
“Foreclosure activity in February marked the 12th consecutive month of annual increases, extending a gradual upward trend that began early last year,” ATTOM CEO Rob Barber said in a release. “While filings dipped slightly from January, both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures remain higher than a year ago. Even with the continued rise, overall foreclosure levels remain well below historic norms.”
Across the nation, one in every 3,701 housing units had a foreclosure filing in February. States with the worst foreclosure rates were Indiana (one in every 1,597 housing units with a foreclosure filing); South Carolina (one in every 2,217 housing units); Florida (one in every 2,277); Delaware (one in every 2,443); and Illinois (one in every 2,590).
Among metro areas with populations of 200,000 or more, Lakeland, Fla. recorded the worst foreclosure rate in February, with one filing for every 1,075 housing units. Following Lakeland were Punta Gorda, Fla. (one in every 1,211 housing units); Indianapolis, Ind. (one in every 1,249); Evansville, Ind. (one in every 1,316); and Columbia, S.C. (one in every 1,433).
Lenders started the foreclosure process on 25,928 properties in February, down 2 percent from last month but up 14 percent from a year ago.
States that had the greatest number of foreclosure starts in January included: Texas (3,390 foreclosure starts); Florida (3,250); California (2,440); Georgia (1,331); and Indiana (1,197).
The major metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million that had the largest year-over-year decreases in the number of foreclosure starts in February included: Tucson, Ariz. (decrease from 115 foreclosure starts in February 2025 to 24 in February 2026); New Orleans (decrease from 146 to 55 foreclosure starts); Buffalo, N.Y. (decrease from 88 to 57); Philadelphia (decrease from 743 to 482); and Minneapolis (decrease from 218 to 143).
In February, lenders repossessed 4,077 U.S. properties through completed foreclosures (REOs), a decrease of 14 percent from last month and an increase of 35 percent from last year.
States that had the greatest number of REOs in February included: Texas (453 REOs); Michigan (432); Florida (364); California (335); and Pennsylvania (234).
The major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with a population greater than 1 million and at least 20 REOs that saw the greatest annual decline in the number of REOs in February included: St. Louis (decrease from 91 REOs in February 2025 to 53 in February 2026); Baltimore (decrease from 74 to 59); Chicago (decrease from 154 to 132); Riverside, Calif. (decrease from 58 to 53); and New Orleans, (decrease from 39 to 36).