According to ATTOM Data Solutions’ newly released January 2021 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, there were a total of 9,702 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — reported in January 2021. That figure was down 11 percent from December 2020 and 80 percent from January 2020.
ATTOM’s latest foreclosure market analysis reported that the lenders repossessed 1,428 U.S. properties through completed foreclosures (REOs) in January 2021. That number was down 28 percent from last month and down 86 percent from last year, marking thirteenth consecutive annual decline in completed foreclosures.
The January 2021 report also showed that lenders started the foreclosure process on 5,235 U.S. properties in January 2021, down 12 percent from last month and 80 percent from a year ago. However, counter to the national trend, some states saw increases in foreclosure starts from last month including: Washington (up 63 percent); Virginia (up 54 percent); North Carolina (up 32 percent); Massachusetts (up 21 percent); and Ohio (up 10 percent).
According to the analysis, among the 220 metro areas with a population of at least 200,000 and at least 100 or more foreclosure starts in January 2021, those that saw double digit annual declines, included: Chicago, IL (down 87 percent); New York, NY (down 85 percent); Los Angeles, CA (down 80 percent); Dallas, TX (down 77 percent); and Houston, TX (down 69 percent).
In this post, we dig deep into the data behind our January 2021 foreclosure market report to uncover the top 10 most populated U.S. counties with foreclosure starts on the rise. Among those counties with 20,000 or more people, those that saw double-digit annual increases in foreclosure starts were led by: Suwannee County, FL (up 50 percent); Boyd County, KY (up 50 percent); Barry County, MO (up 50 percent); Butler County, MO (up 50 percent); Callaway County, MO (up 50); Steuben County, NY (up 50 percent); Jackson County, OK (up 50 percent); Cameron County, TX (up 42 percent); Coryell County, TX (up 40 percent); and Yavapai County, AZ (up 33 percent).
ATTOM’s January 2021 foreclosure analysis also reported that nationwide one in every 14,164 housing units had a foreclosure filing in January 2021. The report noted the states with the highest foreclosure rates were Delaware (one in every 4,923 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Louisiana (one in every 6,581 housing units); Florida (one in every 7,920 housing units); Indiana (one in every 8,668 housing units); and Alabama (one in every 8,707 housing units).
The report also noted that among the 220 metro areas with a population of at least 200,000, those with the highest foreclosure rates in January 2021 were Lake Charles, LA (one in every 2,050 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Birmingham, AL (one in every 3,053 housing units); Lafayette, LA (one in every 3,492 housing units); Provo, UT (one in every 3,631 housing units); and Beaumont, TX (one in every 3,871 housing units).
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