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Overview of Recent Foreclosure Trends

In February 2026, foreclosure activity in the United States exhibited a marked increase according to ATTOM's recent report. This report highlights key statistics that reveal a significant ongoing trend in foreclosure activity, continuing the gradual rise noted over the past year.

Key Statistics

The report documented a total of 38,840 properties with foreclosure filings, which include default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions. This figure shows a 4% decrease from January but represents a 20% increase from the same period the previous year. Notably, this marks the twelfth consecutive month of annual increases in foreclosure activity, indicating a persistent upward trend in this market sector.

Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, emphasized this trend, stating that, “While filings dipped slightly from January, both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures remain higher than a year ago.” He further noted that, despite the increases, overall levels of foreclosure are still significantly lower than historical averages.

States with Highest Foreclosure Rates

Delving into regional variations, the states with the highest foreclosure rates in February included:

• - Indiana: One in every 1,597 housing units had a foreclosure filing.
• - South Carolina: One in every 2,217.
• - Florida: One in every 2,277.
• - Delaware: One in every 2,443.
• - Illinois: One in every 2,590.

Among metropolitan areas with populations over 200,000, Lakeland, Florida had the highest foreclosure rate, with one filing for every 1,075 housing units. This was followed by other troubled areas such as Punta Gorda, Florida and Indianapolis, Indiana.

Foreclosure Starts and Completed Foreclosures

In terms of foreclosure starts, lenders initiated the process for 25,928 properties in February 2026, reflecting a 14% increase year-over-year, although down 2% from January. The states with the highest number of foreclosure starts included:

• - Texas: 3,390 starts
• - Florida: 3,250 starts
• - California: 2,440 starts

On the other hand, completed foreclosures (REOs) saw 4,077 properties repossessed through this process, which is a notable 35% increase from February of last year despite a 14% decrease from the previous month, hinting at fluctuations that may be influenced by market conditions and lender practices at that time.

Analysis of Urban Areas

Contrarily, certain major metropolitan areas with populations exceeding 1 million showed significant year-over-year decreases in foreclosure starts. These include Tucson, Arizona, which saw a drop from 115 starts in February 2025 to 24 in February 2026, illustrating a notable improvement in market conditions in some regions. Similarly, areas like Philadelphia and Minneapolis also reflected decreases in foreclosure activity, which may suggest localized recovery in those urban markets.

Conclusion

The key findings from ATTOM’s report underscore a mixed picture regarding foreclosure activity across the United States. While there is an overall increase in filings on an annual basis, the monthly data shows fluctuations that could indicate potential stabilization or shifts in market dynamics. As the year unfolds, keeping a close watch on these trends will be essential for understanding the evolving landscape of the real estate market. ATTOM's comprehensive data continues to provide invaluable insights for investors, policymakers, and analysts alike, making it crucial in navigating these turbulent waters of real estate.

About ATTOM

ATTOM, a leader in property data and analytics, uses advanced AI-driven solutions to provide insights into real estate, covering over 158 million U.S. properties and reaching 99% of the population. Their data collection spans various aspects including foreclosure rates, which are integral in analyzing market conditions.

For more precise analytics regarding real estate and property trends, ATTOM remains a go-to source for comprehensive data and insights.