ATTOM recently released its Q1 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows a total of 118,727 properties with a foreclosure filing during the first quarter of 2026, up 6 percent from the previous quarter and up 26 percent from a year ago.
The report also shows a total of 45,921 properties with foreclosure filings in March 2026, up 18 percent from the previous month and up 28 percent from a year ago.
“Foreclosure activity increased in the first quarter, with both starts and completed foreclosures posting solid year-over-year gains,” ATTOM CEO Rob Barber said in the report. “While volumes remain below historical peaks, the continued rise, especially in starts and bank repossessions, suggests financial pressure may be building for some homeowners and could signal shifting housing market dynamics.”
A total of 82,631 properties started the foreclosure process in Q1 2026, up 7 percent from the previous quarter and up 20 percent from a year ago.
States that had the greatest number of foreclosure starts in first quarter included: Texas (10,617 foreclosure starts); Florida (10,099); California (7,985); Georgia (4,356); and New York (3,886).
Those major metros with a population of 200,000 or more that had the greatest number of foreclosures starts in Q1 2026 included: New York (3,868 foreclosure starts); Houston (3,614); Chicago (3,401); Atlanta (2,520); and Dallas (2,427).
The worst foreclosure rates were in Indiana, South Carolina and Florida.
Nationwide one in every 1,211 housing units had a foreclosure filing in Q1 2026. States with the worst foreclosure rates were: Indiana (one in every 739 housing units with a foreclosure filing); South Carolina (one in every 743); Florida (one in every 750); Delaware (one in every 757); and Illinois (one in every 833).
Among 227 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000, those with the worst foreclosure rates in Q1 2026 were: Lakeland, Fla. (one in every 409 housing units); Punta Gorda, Fla. (one in 416); Columbia, S.C. (one in 440); Fayetteville, N.C. (one in 480); and Macon, Ga. (one in 492).
Major metros with a population of at least 1 million and foreclosure rates in the top 20 worst nationwide included Cleveland (No. 6); Jacksonville, Fla. (No.11); Indianapolis, Ind. (No. 12); and Orlando (No. 17).
Bank repossessions posted a 45 percent annual gain, while lenders repossessed 14,020 properties through foreclosure (REO) in Q1 2026, up 2 percent from the previous quarter and up 45 percent from a year ago.
Among states with 100 or more REOs in Q1 2026, those with the greatest annual increases in number of REOs were: Colorado (increase from 99 REOs in Q1 2025 to 321 REOs in Q1 2026); Alabama (increase from 153 to 355); Washington (increase from 104 to 224); Oregon (increase from 80 to 170); and Florida (increase from 487 to 1,014).
The average foreclosure timeline declined 14 percent from last year.
Properties foreclosed in Q1 2026 had been in the foreclosure process for an average of 577 days. This was down 3 percent from the previous quarter and 14 percent from the same time last year, marking six consecutive quarters of decline.
States with the longest average foreclosure timelines for homes foreclosed in Q1 2026 were: Louisiana (3,140 days); Hawaii (2,119); New York (1,911); Connecticut (1,686); and Nevada (1,422).
States with the shortest average foreclosure timelines for homes foreclosed in Q1 2026 were: Texas (165 days); West Virgina (178); Alaska (192); Wyoming (193); and Rhode Island (219).