The latest ATTOM data points to a shift that brokers should be watching closely this fall
Foreclosure filings on US properties climbed 13% in August, compared with the same month a year earlier, according to ATTOM's US Foreclosure Market Report, with one category of activity rising far faster than the headline number suggests.
A total of 40,277 properties received a foreclosure filing in August — covering default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions — edging up 1% from July, according to ATTOM, the property data and real estate analytics firm.
Nationally, that translates to one foreclosure filing for every 3,569 housing units.
Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM, acknowledged the continued upward pressure without raising alarm.
"August's data shows that foreclosure activity continues to trend above year-ago levels, particularly in completed foreclosures, which saw a notable annual increase," Barber said.
"While some homeowners are still facing financial challenges, overall foreclosure volumes remain well below historical norms and the broader housing market continues to demonstrate resilience."
That context matters. Full-year 2025 foreclosure filings totaled 367,460 properties nationwide, up 14% from 2024 but down 87% from the 2010 peak of nearly 2.9 million, according to ATTOM's year-end 2025 report.
The August numbers extend a trend that has been building since early 2025, consistent annual increases that reflect a market working through pandemic-era forbearance distortions rather than a structural collapse.
Sun Belt leads in foreclosure concentration
State-level data shows foreclosure pressure is far from evenly distributed. South Carolina posted the worst foreclosure rate in the country in August, with one filing for every 1,547 housing units — more than twice the national rate.
Nevada followed at one in every 1,920 units, with Florida (1 in 2,397), Texas (1 in 2,445), and Maryland (1 in 2,530) rounding out the five worst-performing states.
At the metro level, South Carolina's Columbia recorded one filing per 1,232 housing units, the highest rate among metropolitan areas with populations of at least 200,000.
Punta Gorda, Florida (1 in 1,249), Spartanburg, South Carolina (1 in 1,262), Fayetteville, North Carolina (1 in 1,458), and Charleston, South Carolina (1 in 1,501) followed closely.
Not all markets are moving in the same direction, however. Several major metros posted year-over-year declines in foreclosure starts, including Cleveland, Ohio (down from 281 starts in August 2025 to 175 in August 2026), Washington, D.C. (from 364 to 227), and Providence, Rhode Island (from 88 to 55).
August 2026 — Foreclosure rates by state
| Rank | State | One filing per… | Housing units |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | Every 1,547 housing units | 1 in 1,547 |
| 2 | Nevada | Every 1,920 housing units | 1 in 1,920 |
| 3 | Florida | Every 2,397 housing units | 1 in 2,397 |
| 4 | Texas | Every 2,445 housing units | 1 in 2,445 |
| 5 | Maryland | Every 2,530 housing units | 1 in 2,530 |
National average: one foreclosure filing per 3,569 housing units — August 2026
Source: ATTOM August 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report
August 2026 — Bank repossessions (REOs) by state
| Rank | State | Completed foreclosures (REOs) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Texas | 1,835 |
| 2 | California | 589 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 356 |
| 4 | Arizona | 296 |
| 5 | Alabama | 286 |
Total U.S. REOs in August 2026: 5,794 — up 42% year-over-year, up 22% from July 2026
Bank repossessions accelerate sharply
The most striking data point in the report is the completed foreclosure figure. Lenders repossessed 5,794 properties through real estate-owned (REO) processes in August, a 22% jump from July and a 42% increase from August 2025.
That annual gain in bank repossessions is significantly steeper than the 13% rise in overall filings, and suggests a growing share of distressed properties are moving through to completion.
Texas dominated the REO count, with 1,835 repossessions in August alone — nearly three times the volume of California, which ranked second with 589.
North Carolina (356), Arizona (296), and Alabama (286) followed. At the metro level, Houston led with 448 REOs, followed by Dallas (402), San Antonio (256), Phoenix (186), and Baltimore (167).
Lenders initiated the foreclosure process on 25,894 properties in August, down 3% from July but up 7% from August 2025.
Florida led foreclosure starts with 3,189, ahead of Texas (3,126), California (2,565), Illinois (1,192), and Georgia (1,189).
The August data reinforces that message. Volumes remain a fraction of post-2008 levels, and the ATTOM report notes that strong equity positions and post-crisis lending standards are continuing to buffer the market from widespread distress.
But the regional concentration and the rising REO count gives brokers working in Florida, Texas, and South Carolina specific ground to cover with clients this fall.
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