Key facts
- Foreclosure filings on U.S. properties rose 13% year-over-year to 40,277 in August 2026.
- One in every 3,569 housing units nationally had a foreclosure filing in August.
- South Carolina had the highest state foreclosure rate, with one filing for every 1,547 housing units.
- Completed foreclosures increased 42% from August 2025 to 5,794 in August 2026.
- Lenders initiated 25,894 foreclosure proceedings in August, up 7% from a year earlier.
Foreclosure filings across the U.S. saw a 13% increase compared to the previous year in August 2026, with 40,277 properties experiencing such actions, according to ATTOM's U.S. Foreclosure Market Report. This marks a 1% rise from July 2026.
Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, noted that while foreclosure activity is trending above year-ago levels, particularly in completed foreclosures, overall volumes remain below historical norms, indicating continued resilience in the broader housing market. Nationally, one in every 3,569 housing units faced a foreclosure filing in August.
The Southern region was most affected, with South Carolina leading the states in foreclosure rates at one filing per 1,547 housing units. Nevada followed with one in 1,920, then Florida at one in 2,397, Texas at one in 2,445, and Maryland at one in 2,530.
Among metropolitan areas with populations exceeding 200,000, Columbia, South Carolina, reported the highest rate, with one foreclosure filing for every 1,232 housing units. Other areas with high rates included Punta Gorda, Florida; Spartanburg, South Carolina; Fayetteville, North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina.
Lenders initiated 25,894 foreclosure proceedings in August, a 3% decrease from the prior month but a 7% increase from August 2025. Florida led in foreclosure starts with 3,189, followed by Texas, California, Illinois, and Georgia.
Completed foreclosures, where lenders repossess properties, saw a significant increase, with 5,794 properties taken back in August. This represents a 22% jump from July and a substantial 42% increase from the previous year. Texas had the highest number of repossessions with 1,835, followed by California, North Carolina, Arizona, and Alabama.