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What Is the Current Foreclosure Rate in the U.S.?

In May 2026, U.S. foreclosure activity declined from the prior month but remained higher than levels reported one year earlier, reflecting a continued normalization trend in the housing market.

Total filings: 40,355 properties with default notices, scheduled auctions, or bank repossessions

Monthly change: Down 5 percent from April 2026

Year-over-year change: Up 14 percent from May 2025

National rate: One in every 3,562 housing units had a foreclosure filing

States with the worst foreclosure rates: Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Nevada, Indiana

Foreclosure Starts and Completions

Starts: Lenders initiated the foreclosure process on 27,304 U.S. properties in May 2026, down 4 percent from the previous month but up 13 percent from a year ago.

Completions (REOs): Lenders repossessed 4,092 properties in May 2026, down 20 percent from the previous month but up 6 percent from a year ago.

What’s Driving May 2026 Foreclosure Trends?

Foreclosure activity in May 2026 declined month over month but remained above year-ago levels, continuing a broader normalization trend. While filings eased compared with April, elevated levels relative to last year suggest lenders are still working through distressed inventory. At the same time, strong homeowner equity, disciplined lending practices, and sustained housing demand continue to keep broad foreclosure pressure in check.

Foreclosure Rates by State –  May 2026

Below is the complete state-by-state foreclosure ranking for January 2026 and the top 4 counties with the worst foreclosure rates per state.

1. Florida

1 in every 2,110 housing units (4,861 filings / 10,256,470 units)
Counties: Hamilton, Charlotte, Hendry, Osceola

2. South Carolina

1 in every 2,287 housing units (1,068 filings / 2,443,039 units)
Counties: Kershaw, Union, Richland, Greenwood

3. Maryland

1 in every 2,369 housing units (1,081 filings / 2,560,784 units)
Counties: Baltimore City, Charles, Allegany, Dorchester

4. Nevada

1 in every 2,386 housing units (556 filings / 1,326,471 units)
Counties: Lyon, Clark, Mineral, Nye

5. Indiana

1 in every 2,516 housing units (1,183 filings / 2,976,568 units)
Counties: Lake, Grant, Vermillion, Perry

6. Utah

1 in every 2,576 housing units (475 filings / 1,223,468 units)
Counties: Garfield, Tooele, Sevier, Sanpete

7. Arizona

1 in every 2,579 housing units (1,238 filings / 3,192,839 units)
Counties: Pima, Pinal, Mohave, Cochise

8. Delaware

1 in every 2,780 housing units (167 filings / 464,203 units)
Counties: Kent, New Castle, Sussex

9. New Jersey

1 in every 2,836 housing units (1,337 filings / 3,791,354 units)
Counties: Salem, Cumberland, Camden, Sussex

10. Illinois

1 in every 2,869 housing units (1,902 filings / 5,457,452 units)
Counties: Mason, Dewitt, Clay, Ford

11. Texas

1 in every 2,952 housing units (4,109 filings / 12,128,515 units)
Counties: Liberty, Camp, Hill, Bee

12. Ohio

1 in every 2,963 housing units (1,786 filings / 5,292,391 units)
Counties: Cuyahoga, Muskingum, Portage, Brown

13. Iowa

1 in every 3,008 housing units (478 filings / 1,437,699 units)
Counties: Pocahontas, Taylor, Cass, Washington

14. North Carolina

1 in every 3,181 housing units (1,539 filings / 4,895,668 units)
Counties: Gates, Camden, Onslow, Edgecombe

15. Oklahoma

1 in every 3,251 housing units (546 filings / 1,775,127 units)
Counties: Logan, Woods, Coal, Garvin

16. Alabama

1 in every 3,437 housing units (680 filings / 2,337,265 units)
Counties: Fayette, Clarke, Coosa, Mobile

17. Colorado

1 in every 3,489 housing units (742 filings / 2,589,053 units)
Counties: Sedgwick, Pueblo, Dolores, Arapahoe

18. California

1 in every 3,541 housing units (4,136 filings / 14,644,735 units)
Counties: Lake, Butte, Sutter, Kern

19. Georgia

1 in every 3,657 housing units (1,242 filings / 4,541,835 units)
Counties: Butts, Taliaferro, Bibb, Walton

20. New Mexico

1 in every 3,738 housing units (256 filings / 956,964 units)
Counties: Torrance, Valencia, Roosevelt, Colfax

21. Louisiana

1 in every 3,779 housing units (558 filings / 2,108,902 units)
Counties: Ascension, Tangipahoa, Plaquemines, Livingston

22. Michigan

1 in every 3,845 housing units (1,202 filings / 4,622,236 units)
Counties: Saint Joseph, Tuscola, Lapeer, Calhoun

23. Pennsylvania

1 in every 4,260 housing units (1,363 filings / 5,806,452 units)
Counties: Delaware, Cambria, Philadelphia, Allegheny

24. New York

1 in every 4,444 housing units (1,932 filings / 8,585,241 units)
Counties: Washington, Rockland, Montgomery, Tioga

25. Connecticut

1 in every 4,469 housing units (345 filings / 1,541,822 units)
Counties: Naugatuck Valley, South Central Connecticut, Northwest Hills, Greater Bridgeport

26. Wyoming

1 in every 4,470 housing units (62 filings / 277,141 units)
Counties: Goshen, Platte, Campbell, Carbon

27. Minnesota

1 in every 4,537 housing units (561 filings / 2,545,030 units)
Counties: Isanti, Yellow Medicine, Roseau, Mahnomen

28. Kentucky

1 in every 4,840 housing units (418 filings / 2,023,116 units)
Counties: Jefferson, Hardin, Carroll, Kenton

29. Maine

1 in every 4,947 housing units (152 filings / 751,876 units)
Counties: Aroostook, Kennebec, Hancock, Knox

30. Arkansas

1 in every 5,090 housing units (274 filings / 1,394,673 units)
Counties: Howard, Madison, Searcy, Clark

31. Idaho

1 in every 5,300 housing units (150 filings / 795,014 units)
Counties: Lewis, Oneida, Jefferson, Bonner

32. Massachusetts

1 in every 5,421 housing units (559 filings / 3,030,406 units)
Counties: Franklin, Hampden, Bristol, Plymouth

33. Nebraska

1 in every 5,535 housing units (156 filings / 863,444 units)
Counties: Thayer, Red Willow, Fillmore, Hamilton

34. Missouri

1 in every 5,606 housing units (504 filings / 2,825,287 units)
Counties: Dunklin, Randolph, Mcdonald, Pettis

35. Virginia

1 in every 5,934 housing units (621 filings / 3,684,756 units)
Counties: Martinsville City, Franklin City, Sussex, Bland

36. Alaska

1 in every 6,952 housing units (46 filings / 319,781 units)
Counties: Ketchikan Gateway, Bethel, Matanuska-Susitna, Kenai Peninsula

37. Oregon

1 in every 7,202 housing units (258 filings / 1,857,992 units)
Counties: Sherman, Clatsop, Columbia, Josephine

38. North Dakota

1 in every 7,546 housing units (50 filings / 377,281 units)
Counties: Sargent, Stark, Burke, Dunn

39. New Hampshire

1 in every 7,720 housing units (84 filings / 648,472 units)
Counties: Belknap, Coos, Merrimack, Rockingham

40. Hawaii

1 in every 8,230 housing units (69 filings / 567,896 units)
Counties: Maui, Honolulu, Hawaii, Kauai

41. Mississippi

1 in every 8,330 housing units (161 filings / 1,341,114 units)
Counties: Sunflower, Webster, Humphreys, Pearl River

42. Tennessee

1 in every 8,496 housing units (370 filings / 3,143,670 units)
Counties: Sequatchie, Lake, Rhea, Hardeman

43. West Virginia

1 in every 8,880 housing units (97 filings / 861,325 units)
Counties: Wayne, Kanawha, Pleasants, Boone

44. Washington

1 in every 9,059 housing units (365 filings / 3,306,620 units)
Counties: Franklin, Stevens, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor

45. Montana

1 in every 10,568 housing units (50 filings / 528,419 units)
Counties: Fallon, Mineral, Chouteau, Custer

46. Kansas

1 in every 10,871 housing units (119 filings / 1,293,635 units)
Counties: Greeley, Edwards, Norton, Barber

47. Wisconsin

1 in every 10,982 housing units (253 filings / 2,778,572 units)
Counties: Kewaunee, Racine, Dodge, Pepin

48. Rhode Island

1 in every 11,301 housing units (43 filings / 485,932 units)
Counties: Kent, Providence, Washington, Newport

49. South Dakota

1 in every 15,581 housing units (26 filings / 405,114 units)
Counties: Mccook, Meade, Turner, Yankton

50. Vermont

1 in every 22,603 housing units (15 filings / 339,042 units)
Counties: Grand Isle, Washington, Rutland, Lamoille

Key Insights from May 2026 Foreclosure Market Report

Foreclosure activity in May 2026 declined compared with the previous month but remained above year-ago levels, reinforcing the ongoing normalization trend. Both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures pulled back from April levels while continuing to reflect elevated activity relative to last year. Despite these increases, overall foreclosure activity remains well below historic peaks.

Explore ATTOM’s Foreclosure Data

ATTOM’s Foreclosure Data tracks default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions nationwide, with historical trends and county-level insights. This data empowers lenders, investors, and market analysts to monitor loan default trends, assess market risks, and uncover investment opportunities.

 

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