U.S. Foreclosures Climb in Early 2026 as Repossessions Surge
Foreclosure activity in the U.S. housing market increased 6% in the first quarter of 2026, with 118,727 properties recording a foreclosure filing, according to ATTOM. The rise was driven by both early-stage defaults and completed repossessions, with lenders taking back 14,020 properties through foreclosure, a 45% surge from a year earlier.
Foreclosure activity in the U.S. housing market accelerated in early 2026, with 118,727 properties recording a foreclosure filing in the first quarter, a 6% increase from the prior quarter and 26% from a year earlier. March saw 45,921 properties with foreclosure actions, an 18% jump from February. Foreclosure starts rose to 82,631 properties, up 7% from the prior quarter and 20% year-over-year, with large states like Texas, Florida, and California leading the increase. Lenders repossessed 14,020 properties, a 45% surge from a year earlier, with states like Colorado, Alabama, and Florida seeing significant annual increases. The time to complete foreclosure decreased by 14% from a year earlier, averaging 577 days. Indiana, South Carolina, and Florida recorded the highest foreclosure rates, with one filing for every 750 housing units or fewer.
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