Foreclosure filings nationwide have surged in the first six months of 2026, a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2025, according to an analysis of ATTOM data by ABC News and ABC Owned Television Stations. This marks a 28% rise from the first half of 2024 and a 71% increase since 2020, when many pandemic-era foreclosure protections were put in place.
While overall foreclosure numbers remain below the peak of the 2007-2010 housing crisis, experts cite rising mortgage rates, property taxes, insurance costs, and the cessation of pandemic-era protections as key factors contributing to the current uptick. Jacob Inwald, director of litigation for economic justice at Legal Services NYC, noted that economic pressures force households to make difficult decisions about which bills to prioritize.
Florida recorded the highest average number of yearly foreclosure filings per ZIP code since the pandemic began, followed by New Jersey, Delaware, Nevada, South Carolina, Illinois, California, Maryland, Ohio, and Arizona. In rural Liberty County, Texas, ZIP code 77327, experienced the nation's highest number of foreclosures over a recent six-year span, with 8,189.
The analysis also found that homeowners of color have been disproportionately impacted, with average annual foreclosures in majority non-white ZIP codes more than three times the national average. Inwald stated that this crisis disproportionately affects communities of color and the elderly, as these groups were often targeted with predatory loans.
Emily Arner, a flight attendant and mother of three from Chandler, Arizona, shared her family's experience. After purchasing their home in early 2022, her husband lost his job last year, making the mortgage payments unsustainable. Despite their efforts, the family lost their home to foreclosure in September 2025 and moved to a rental. Arner emphasized that without savings, such a situation can happen to anyone.
Advocates recommend that homeowners at risk of foreclosure seek assistance from reputable housing counselors. Inwald advised individuals needing help to contact their state's attorney general's office for guidance. Arner has become an advocate, sharing her experience on social media to support others facing similar challenges.