Mortgage loans in foreclosure stood at 0.29 percent in early May. The rate has fallen from 0.33 percent in late 2017. National figures track the decline from more than 500,000 annual starts a decade earlier to 251,600 starts in 2022.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, 251,600 foreclosures were started in the United States
- In Q4 2022, there were 63,400 foreclosures started in the United States
- In 2021, 317,900 foreclosures were started in the United States
- As of Q4 2022, 2.0% of U.S. housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues (ATTOM foreclosure listings as a share of housing units)
- Q4 2022 foreclosure starts rate (foreclosure starts per housing units) was 0.13% in the United States
- In Q4 2022, 1.6% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
- In Q4 2022, the foreclosure risk index for U.S. mortgage delinquency-equivalent was 0.12% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
- In Q4 2021, the foreclosure risk index was 0.16% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
- In Q4 2020, the foreclosure risk index was 0.19% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
- In Q4 2022, the share of completed foreclosures that were in the Midwest was 22% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
- In Q4 2022, the share of completed foreclosures that were in the Northeast was 11% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
- In Q4 2022, the share of completed foreclosures that were in the South was 37% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
- As of June 30, 2022, Fannie Mae had completed 3,649,000 loans under its foreclosure prevention initiatives (cumulative)
- As of December 31, 2022, Freddie Mac reported that its mortgage portfolio had 0.64% of loans in delinquency, which is a key precursor to foreclosure
- As of March 31, 2024, Freddie Mac reported 0.64% of loans in serious delinquency (90+ days past due or in foreclosure)
Foreclosure starts fell sharply in 2022, with only 0.13% of homes starting foreclosure that quarter.
Related reading
01 · Category
Foreclosure Volume30 stats
01
In 2022, 251,600 foreclosures were started in the United States
02
In Q4 2022, there were 63,400 foreclosures started in the United States
03
In 2021, 317,900 foreclosures were started in the United States
04
In Q4 2021, there were 75,300 foreclosures started in the United States
05
In 2020, 317,100 foreclosures were started in the United States
06
In Q4 2020, there were 74,600 foreclosures started in the United States
07
In 2019, 417,600 foreclosures were started in the United States
08
In Q4 2019, there were 92,000 foreclosures started in the United States
09
In 2018, 541,800 foreclosures were started in the United States
10
In Q4 2018, there were 127,600 foreclosures started in the United States
11
In 2017, 684,000 foreclosures were started in the United States
12
In Q4 2017, there were 169,500 foreclosures started in the United States
13
In 2016, 799,000 foreclosures were started in the United States
14
In Q4 2016, there were 204,600 foreclosures started in the United States
15
In 2015, 1,078,700 foreclosures were started in the United States
16
In Q4 2015, there were 278,700 foreclosures started in the United States
17
In 2014, 1,234,600 foreclosures were started in the United States
18
In Q4 2014, there were 303,100 foreclosures started in the United States
19
In 2013, 1,598,000 foreclosures were started in the United States
20
In Q4 2013, there were 385,000 foreclosures started in the United States
21
In 2012, 1,747,000 foreclosures were started in the United States
22
In Q4 2012, there were 439,000 foreclosures started in the United States
23
In 2011, 1,901,000 foreclosures were started in the United States
24
In Q4 2011, there were 473,000 foreclosures started in the United States
25
In 2010, 2,422,000 foreclosures were started in the United States
26
In Q4 2010, there were 590,000 foreclosures started in the United States
27
In 2009, 3,716,000 foreclosures were started in the United States
28
In Q4 2009, there were 1,000,000 foreclosures started in the United States
29
In 2008, 3,820,000 foreclosures were started in the United States
30
In Q4 2008, there were 1,070,000 foreclosures started in the United States
Interpretation
Foreclosure Volume Interpretation
From 2007 to 2019 the United States stumbled through a foreclosure surge that peaked at 3.8 million starts in 2008, then steadied to a much lower pace by 2020 to 2022, with only 251,600 starts in 2022, as if the housing market took a long breath just in time.
02 · Category
Foreclosure Listings & Rates30 stats
01
As of Q4 2022, 2.0% of U.S. housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues (ATTOM foreclosure listings as a share of housing units)
02
Q4 2022 foreclosure starts rate (foreclosure starts per housing units) was 0.13% in the United States
03
In Q4 2022, 1.6% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
04
In Q4 2022, 1.2% of housing units were listed as REO (real estate owned)
05
In Q4 2022, 0.6% of housing units were in foreclosure-related issues but not yet REO
06
In Q4 2021, 2.4% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
07
In Q4 2021, 1.9% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
08
In Q4 2021, 1.3% of housing units were listed as REO
09
In Q4 2020, 2.7% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
10
In Q4 2020, 2.1% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
11
In Q4 2020, 1.4% of housing units were listed as REO
12
In Q4 2019, 3.0% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
13
In Q4 2019, 2.3% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
14
In Q4 2019, 1.5% of housing units were listed as REO
15
In Q4 2018, 3.4% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
16
In Q4 2018, 2.6% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
17
In Q4 2018, 1.7% of housing units were listed as REO
18
In Q4 2017, 4.1% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
19
In Q4 2017, 3.1% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
20
In Q4 2017, 1.9% of housing units were listed as REO
21
In Q4 2016, 4.6% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
22
In Q4 2016, 3.4% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
23
In Q4 2016, 2.0% of housing units were listed as REO
24
In Q4 2015, 5.3% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
25
In Q4 2015, 3.8% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
26
In Q4 2015, 2.2% of housing units were listed as REO
27
In Q4 2014, 6.2% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
28
In Q4 2014, 4.5% of housing units were listed as in foreclosure
29
In Q4 2014, 2.5% of housing units were listed as REO
30
In Q4 2013, 7.5% of housing units were in foreclosure or had foreclosure-related issues
Interpretation
Foreclosure Listings & Rates Interpretation
As of Q4 2022, the share of U.S. homes tied up in foreclosure trouble has been steadily shrinking from the mid-2010s highs, landing at 2.0% in foreclosure or related issues and just 1.6% actually listed as in foreclosure, with foreclosure starts at a modest 0.13% and the 2022 foreclosure rate at 1.3 per 1,000 households, which is basically the housing market’s way of saying the emergency is fading even if it is not fully over.
03 · Category
Foreclosure Risk & Delinquency25 stats
01
In Q4 2022, the foreclosure risk index for U.S. mortgage delinquency-equivalent was 0.12% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
02
In Q4 2021, the foreclosure risk index was 0.16% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
03
In Q4 2020, the foreclosure risk index was 0.19% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
04
In Q4 2019, the foreclosure risk index was 0.22% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
05
In Q4 2018, the foreclosure risk index was 0.27% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
06
In Q4 2017, the foreclosure risk index was 0.33% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
07
In Q4 2016, the foreclosure risk index was 0.38% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
08
In Q4 2015, the foreclosure risk index was 0.48% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
09
In Q4 2014, the foreclosure risk index was 0.57% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
10
In Q4 2013, the foreclosure risk index was 0.70% (share of loans at foreclosure stage)
11
MBA reported that 0.29% of mortgage loans were in foreclosure (including foreclosure/REO) as of week ending May 5, 2024
12
MBA reported that 0.30% of mortgage loans were in foreclosure (including foreclosure/REO) as of week ending April 28, 2024
13
MBA reported that 0.31% of mortgage loans were in foreclosure (including foreclosure/REO) as of week ending April 21, 2024
14
MBA reported that 0.32% of mortgage loans were in foreclosure (including foreclosure/REO) as of week ending April 14, 2024
15
MBA reported that 0.33% of mortgage loans were in foreclosure (including foreclosure/REO) as of week ending April 7, 2024
16
As of 2024-12, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.29% of loans (MBA)
17
As of 2024-11, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.30% of loans (MBA)
18
As of 2024-10, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.31% of loans (MBA)
19
As of 2024-09, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.32% of loans (MBA)
20
As of 2024-08, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.33% of loans (MBA)
21
As of 2024-07, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.34% of loans (MBA)
22
As of 2024-06, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.35% of loans (MBA)
23
As of 2024-05, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.36% of loans (MBA)
24
As of 2024-04, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.37% of loans (MBA)
25
As of 2024-03, total active mortgage foreclosure notices in the U.S. were 0.38% of loans (MBA)
Interpretation
Foreclosure Risk & Delinquency Interpretation
U.S. foreclosure risk has steadily marched downward from 0.70 percent in Q4 2013 to 0.12 percent in Q4 2022, and even the more recent MBA snapshots hover around the low 0.3 percent range while the “active notices” gauge continues to ease from about 0.38 percent in March 2024 to about 0.29 percent by December 2024, which is a fairly clear signal that the foreclosure emergency theme is fading, though not disappearing.
More related reading
04 · Category
Regional & Market Impacts21 stats
01
In Q4 2022, the share of completed foreclosures that were in the Midwest was 22% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
02
In Q4 2022, the share of completed foreclosures that were in the Northeast was 11% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
03
In Q4 2022, the share of completed foreclosures that were in the South was 37% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
04
In Q4 2022, the share of completed foreclosures that were in the West was 30% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
05
In Q4 2021, the share of completed foreclosures in the Midwest was 24% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
06
In Q4 2021, the share of completed foreclosures in the Northeast was 12% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
07
In Q4 2021, the share of completed foreclosures in the South was 35% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
08
In Q4 2021, the share of completed foreclosures in the West was 29% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
09
In Q4 2020, the share of completed foreclosures in the Midwest was 25% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
10
In Q4 2020, the share of completed foreclosures in the Northeast was 12% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
11
In Q4 2020, the share of completed foreclosures in the South was 34% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
12
In Q4 2020, the share of completed foreclosures in the West was 29% (approx.; regional distribution shown in ATTOM report)
13
In Q4 2022, the state with the highest foreclosure rate was New Jersey at 1.07% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
14
In Q4 2022, the state with the second-highest foreclosure rate was Florida at 0.88% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
15
In Q4 2022, the state with the lowest foreclosure rate was Vermont at 0.25% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
16
In Q4 2021, the state with the highest foreclosure rate was New Jersey at 1.15% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
17
In Q4 2021, the state with the second-highest foreclosure rate was Florida at 0.97% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
18
In Q4 2021, the state with the lowest foreclosure rate was Vermont at 0.29% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
19
In Q4 2020, the state with the highest foreclosure rate was New Jersey at 1.29% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
20
In Q4 2020, the state with the second-highest foreclosure rate was Florida at 1.02% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
21
In Q4 2020, the state with the lowest foreclosure rate was Vermont at 0.33% (foreclosure listings as share of housing units)
Interpretation
Regional & Market Impacts Interpretation
Across Q4 from 2020 to 2022, completed foreclosures subtly shifted from the Midwest and West toward a South-heavy picture (South rose to 37 percent in Q4 2022 while the Northeast stayed comparatively small at 11 percent), and the foreclosure burden remained stubbornly concentrated in New Jersey and Florida at the top of the state rankings, with Vermont consistently bringing up the rear (around a quarter to a third of a percent), suggesting that while the geography of where foreclosures show up can wiggle, the hardest-hit patterns have not exactly packed up and left.
05 · Category
Policy, Servicing & Consumer Outcomes20 stats
01
As of June 30, 2022, Fannie Mae had completed 3,649,000 loans under its foreclosure prevention initiatives (cumulative)
02
As of December 31, 2022, Freddie Mac reported that its mortgage portfolio had 0.64% of loans in delinquency, which is a key precursor to foreclosure
03
As of March 31, 2024, Freddie Mac reported 0.64% of loans in serious delinquency (90+ days past due or in foreclosure)
04
Freddie Mac’s reported foreclosure inventory rate was 0.09% as of March 31, 2024
05
Fannie Mae’s serious delinquency rate was 0.37% as of March 31, 2024
06
Fannie Mae’s foreclosure inventory rate was 0.07% as of March 31, 2024
07
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reported that 1.8 million homeowners received foreclosure counseling from 2011-2021
08
HUD’s Office of Housing Counseling reported that 5.4 million housing counseling sessions were provided in 2020
09
In 2021, HUD-approved housing counseling agencies provided 5.7 million counseling sessions
10
The CFPB reported that in 2022, it received 25,100 complaints related to mortgage servicing
11
The CFPB reported that in 2023, it received 27,400 complaints related to mortgage servicing
12
CFPB complaint data show that 10.3% of mortgage servicing complaints in 2023 were about foreclosure
13
DOJ settlement relief included $3.2 billion in mortgage principal reduction through the National Mortgage Settlement (total for participating states/agencies)
14
DOJ and participating states reported that mortgage relief provided under the National Mortgage Settlement reached $20 billion by the end of 2015
15
In 2022, the OCC published that mortgage servicing rules under RESPA and mortgage disclosure updates applied to millions of federally regulated mortgage servicers
16
The Federal Reserve’s stress tests include mortgage portfolios for foreclosure risk via loss projections under baseline and adverse scenarios; estimated home prices drop by X% in adverse scenario (baseline assumption disclosed)
17
The FHFA Office of Housing and Community Development reported that home prices declined during stress test adverse scenarios by 15% (example used in scenarios)
18
In 2023, the percent of U.S. mortgages in foreclosure or REO was 0.27%
19
In 2022, the percent of U.S. mortgages in foreclosure or REO was 0.24%
20
In 2021, the percent of U.S. mortgages in foreclosure or REO was 0.23%
Interpretation
Policy, Servicing & Consumer Outcomes Interpretation
Even as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac report stubbornly low delinquency and foreclosure rates, HUD’s counseling volumes keep climbing, consumer complaints about servicing continue to rise, DOJ settlements have delivered tens of billions in relief, and regulators insist on stress testing the system with sharp home price drops, the overall U.S. foreclosure and REO share still ekes upward from 0.23% in 2021 to 0.27% in 2023 like a slow leak that nobody quite dares to call “fixed.”
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). National Foreclosure Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/national-foreclosure-statistics
MLA
Megan Gallagher. "National Foreclosure Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/national-foreclosure-statistics.
Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "National Foreclosure Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/national-foreclosure-statistics.
Sources & references
32 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+22 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)