Owning a home is the American dream. But as the distressingly high foreclosure statistics taught us back in 2008, that dream can be taken away in the blink of an eye. Going through foreclosure has a devastating effect on your health. Not to mention the long-term impact on your overall credit score.
Sadly, when asked, 6 in 10 homeowners said they wished they’d better understand the terms of their mortgage.
We’re here to remedy that situation by providing the essential information on foreclosures every homeowner should know.
To find out what these are, and more, keep on reading.
Top 10 Key Facts & Foreclosure Statistics for 2021
- There are two types of foreclosures: judicial and nonjudicial.
- The statute of limitations on a foreclosure typically lasts between three and six years.
- The main reason for house foreclosures is borrowers falling behind on their mortgage payments.
- The number of foreclosed homes has been steadily declining since 2010.
- The number of “zombie” homes amounted to 7,650 in Q2 2020.
- In Q1 2021, there were a total of 33,699 foreclosure filings.
- In 2020, the foreclosure rate in the US was 0.16%.
- Foreclosure statistics show California is currently the state with the highest number of REOs — 190.
- Florida saw an annual decrease in REOs in February 2020.
- Wells Fargo was the leading reverse mortgage company in the US.
First and Foremost Foreclosure Facts
What are the two types of foreclosures, and how long are the proceedings?
1. There are two types of foreclosures: judicial and nonjudicial.
(Nolo)
In judicial foreclosures, state laws require legal action to be taken before the foreclosure process. Therefore, lenders must provide proof of delayed loan payments.
In the case of a nonjudicial foreclosure, lenders can default directly to the borrower without the court’s involvement.
2. From start to finish, house foreclosures can take a year or longer.
(NBF)
Foreclosure stats suggest that the proceedings usually start when the borrower is 3–6 months behind with payments. Lenders won’t begin a procedure if a borrower is only one payment behind.
Nevertheless, the length of the foreclosure procedure will also depend on state laws. There are two different types of foreclosure jurisdictions — the power of sale jurisdictions and judicial foreclosure jurisdictions.
Judicial foreclosure refers to giving your deed to a trustee who will sell your home at an auction if you don’t make your mortgage payments.
The power of sale jurisdictions gives trustees the right to sell the property (without court oversight) to the highest bidder.
3. Foreclosure and eviction practices by state vary greatly, but they generally depend on whether the process is judicial or nonjudicial.
(SFGATE)
For instance, homeowners in Washington have 20 days to vacate the property after a foreclosure.
On the other hand, in California foreclosures, the new owner has the right to issue a three-day notice to the former owner. In a judicial mortgage foreclosure, the homeowner can’t be evicted for up to one year (until the redemption period expires).
4. The statute of limitations on a foreclosure typically lasts between three and six years, depending on the foreclosure statute of limitations by state.
(Justia)
The statute of limitations refers to the time in which a lender can pursue a foreclosure procedure once the borrower stops making mortgage payments.
The length of the statute of limitations and determining when the clock starts running varies as some states have specific rules of regulations on foreclosures. In contrast, other states adhere to the statute of limitations for written contracts.
3 Main Reasons for Foreclosure Statistics
What are the leading causes of delayed payments?
5. The main reason for house foreclosures is borrowers falling behind on their mortgage payments.
(Citywide Home Loans) (Nolo)
If borrowers are at least 120 days behind on their mortgage payments, the lender can legally start the foreclosure process.
Some of the leading causes of delayed or halted payments include a death of a loved one, rising medical bills, or leading a lifestyle beyond one’s means.
6. Other reasons for foreclosure include negative equity and adjustable mortgage loans, foreclosure statistics show.
(Citywide Home Loans) (AJC)
Negative equity — or colloquially referred to as “being underwater” — happens when the price of the home falls, resulting in the homeowner owing more in mortgage than what the home is worth.
For example, in 2008, there were over 3.1 million foreclosure filings, and 861,664 families lost their homes.
How many foreclosures in 2008 had negative equity? A whopping 12% of homes. What’s more, they accounted for 47% of all foreclosures in the second half of 2008.
7. Subprime mortgages were responsible for 42% of foreclosure starts in 2007.
(CNN) (Investopedia)
The widespread use of subprime mortgages, generally issued by high-risk borrowers, was one of the main reasons for the 2008 housing market crash. This is also the year of the big stock market crash.
On top of that, subprime loans have higher delinquency rates, leading to higher rates of foreclosed properties.
How Common Are Foreclosures?
How many foreclosures are filed each year?
8. The number of foreclosed homes has been steadily declining since 2010.
(Bankrate) (PR Newswire)
Foreclosure filings on US property peaked in 2010 when the rate of foreclosed properties was as high as 2.23%. On top of that, in 2020, the rates reached a record low due to the pandemic.
9. There were foreclosure filings reported on 493,066 US properties in 2019.
(Attom)
Foreclosure rates in 2019 were down by 21% from the previous year and down by a whopping 83% from the 2010 peak.
10. In December 2020, there were 10,876 US properties with foreclosure filings.
(PR Newswire)
This was an 8% increase, compared to the previous month, and an 80% decrease compared to the prior year.
Likewise, lenders repossessed 50,238 properties in 2020, which is 65% less than in 2019. Also, the number of foreclosure processes was down by 61%, compared to the number of foreclosures in 2019.
11. The number of “zombie” homes amounted to 7,650 in Q2 2020.
(Attom)
“Zombie” foreclosures refer to homes that are vacant while the foreclosure process is going on. There were 3% (7,650) of empty foreclosed homes in the US in the second quarter of 2020.
Ohio (6.7%), New Mexico (5.5%), and Indiana (4.8%) had the highest percentage of zombie foreclosures, as per foreclosure statistics.
In contrast, South Dakota, Idaho, and New Hampshire had the lowest rates.
12. As of April 2021, 11,810 US properties had a foreclosure filing.
(Real Trends)
In other words, 1 in every 11,636 dwellings had a foreclosure filing. At the same time, there was a 1% decrease compared to the previous month and a 41% decrease compared to last year when it comes to REOs.
13. In Q1 2021, there were a total of 33,699 foreclosure filings.
(Attom)
How many foreclosures in 2021 affected US properties? 9% more than the previous quarter and 78% less than the previous year.
Simultaneously, lenders began their foreclosure processes on 17,652 properties in the US. That’s 3% more than the previous quarter, but 78% less than the preceding year.
14. The home mortgage debt of households and NGOs reached around $10.94 trillion by Q4 2020.
(Statista) (Statista)
Mortgage debt is the largest form of debt among American consumers. In 2020, the home mortgage debt of households and nonprofit organizations was highest since 1950 (when it amounted to $0.05 trillion).
Foreclosure Rates by State 2021 Update
Which US states have the highest/lowest rates?
15. Fourteen states recorded yearly increases in the number of foreclosed homes between 2018 and 2019.
(Attom)
The number of foreclosures starts decreased nationwide. However, in states such as Rhode Island and Mississippi, the percentage of foreclosure starts went up by 54% and 39%, respectively.
16. In 2020, the foreclosure rate in the US was 0.16%.
(Statista) (PR Newswire)
There were 214,323 foreclosure filings in 2020, which is 0.2% less than in 2019.
Based on historical foreclosure rates, the foreclosure rate was highest in 2010, right after the economic crisis, amounting to 2.23%.
The rate has been falling consistently ever since, reaching 0.16% in 2020.
17. California is currently the state with the highest number of REOs — 190.
(Real Trends)
As of April, The Golden State had 190 real estate-owned houses, California foreclosure statistics from 2021 report. Florida came in second, with 176 REOs. Illinois took third place with 127 REOs, followed by Texas (111 REOs), and New Jersey (109 REOs).
Regarding the cities with over 1 million inhabitants, Chicago (113 REOs), Philadelphia (90 REOs), Riverside (53 REOs), and Los Angeles (43 REOs) had the highest number of REOs.
18. Delaware had the highest foreclosure rates by state in 2020.
(Attom)
0.33% of housing units in Delaware were filed for foreclosure. New Jersey was second on the list, with 0.31% of foreclosure filings, followed by Illinois (0.30%), Maryland (0.26%), and South Carolina (0.24%).
When it comes to metro areas with a population of over 1 million, Cleveland (0.34%), Chicago (0.30%), Baltimore (0.29%), and Philadelphia (0.29%) had the highest foreclosure rate.
19. Foreclosure stats show Vermont has the lowest number of foreclosed homes.
(MarketWatch) (RealtyTrac)
According to the latest data, Vermont is the state that has the lowest number of foreclosed properties (1 in 66,221), followed by South Dakota (1 in 54,183), North Dakota (1 in every 51,523), and West Virginia (1 in every 38,664).
The previously mentioned states have had low foreclosure rates even after the 2008 crisis. For example, a decade ago, Vermont had the lowest rates (merely 0.05%). North Dakota ranked right after (0.13%), followed by West Virginia and South Dakota (0.17% and 0.21%, respectively).
20. Riverside (1 in every 5,020 units) had some of the worst rates of foreclosed homes in April this year, California foreclosure statistics reveal.
(Real Trends)
Besides Riverside, cities (population over 1 million) with the worst rates were Las Vegas (1 in every 4,838), Jacksonville (1 in 5,243), and Chicago (1 in 5,324).
21. Florida saw an annual decrease in REOs in February 2020.
(Attom) (Pew Research Center)
The analysis of Florida foreclosure statistics from 2019 reveals a decline of 47% in terms of REOs. This is excellent news for the residents of Florida. They were, along with California, the two states that were hit the hardest by the 2008 housing crisis.
The rates of foreclosure in 10 counties in Florida and 12 counties in California went over 5% in 2008, accounting for the majority of the 33 counties with such a high rate of foreclosed homes in 2008.
22. According to the current Maryland foreclosure statistics, 36.1% of active foreclosure homes are currently bank-owned.
(RealtyTrac)
As of April 2021, 40.6% of homes are on auction, and 23.3% are in the pre-foreclosure phase.
Compared to the previous month, there was a decrease in bank-owned properties and auctioned homes by 18.6% and 49.1%, respectively. Relating to pre-foreclosures, there was an increase of 210% compared to the month before.
Financial Effects of a Mortgage Foreclosure
How can foreclosure affect your credit score?
23. A foreclosure on your credit report can drop your score anywhere from 85 to 160 points.
(Debt.org) (Nolo)
The higher your credit score, the more damage a mortgage foreclosure will cause.
For instance, borrowers with high credit scores can see a drop of at least a hundred points after a foreclosure or a short sale.
24. Homeowners who go through foreclosures take longer to rebuild their credit.
(Nolo)
A foreclosure will undoubtedly lower your scores. Yet, by how much?
Well, based on recent foreclosure statistics, it will depend on the scores you had before.
To illustrate, if you had lower credit scores before foreclosure — for example, 680 — you would lose 85–105 points. Now, if you had higher scores to start with (like 780) you might lose 140–160 FICO points.
How much time will it take to rebuild your credit? It will happen more quickly if your credit increases and you don’t delay your payments.
25. Foreclosures stay on a borrower’s credit record for years.
(Experian)
How long does a foreclosure stay on your credit report? It can stay there for seven years (from the date you stopped paying for a mortgage). Every time you skip a payment, it will be noted on your credit report, which will negatively affect your credit score.
Again, if you skip 3–4 mortgage payments, you could lose over 100 points.
It’s also worth mentioning that the foreclosure will stay on your credit report even when you take care of your scores. Also, lenders might not be keen to give you money if you have foreclosures on your credit report.
Foreclosure data shows that keeping an eye on your personal finance is one of the best ways to prevent errors in your credit report.
26. Most states allow lenders to pursue borrowers for a deficiency judgment.
(Nolo)
A deficiency judgment is a court order against a borrower when a foreclosure sale doesn’t cover the homeowner’s debt.
One way to get out of paying a deficiency judgment on foreclosure is by filing for bankruptcy. Still, this is not an option recommended by legal experts.
27. Based on the foreclosure statistics from 2020, Wells Fargo was the leading reverse mortgage company in the US for HECM loans.
(Statista)
In 2020, Wells Fargo processed 162,890 loans, which made it dominant among other reverse mortgage companies in the US.
The second company on the list, American Advisors Group, processed half as much — 81,560. Next on the list were Financial Freedom Senior Funding Corp and One Reverse Mortgage LLC.
FAQs
Were foreclosures on the rise in 2019?
No, they weren’t. Actually, the USA foreclosure rate dropped to a 15-year low in 2019 — representing only 0.36% of all US housing units.
Going against the national trend, 14 states reported YOY increases in the number of foreclosure starts — most notably Rhode Island (up by 54%), Mississippi (a rise of 39%), Georgia (24% up), Arkansas (14% up), and Louisiana (11% up).
Were foreclosures increasing in 2020?
No. In fact, the foreclosure rate fell to 0.16% in 2020 (0.2% less than in 2019).
What’s more, foreclosure starts went down by 67% compared to the previous year. Likewise, foreclosure sales experienced a similar fate; they went down by 70% compared to 2019.
Why was there a drop in numbers? In short, lenders stopped taking back properties due to the pandemic.
How many foreclosures happened in 2020?
Only 214,323 properties were in foreclosure in 2020. That’s 278,743 less, compared to 2019 (493,066 foreclosures). This was also a record low compared to previous years.
In addition to that, 2.15 million American homeowners were 90 days behind with their mortgage payments due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Moreover, the prices of homes witnessed a significant growth amidst the pandemic, which made some homeowners who were unable to pay the mortgages sell their properties.
What is the percentage of foreclosures in 2020?
As previously mentioned, the percentage of foreclosures in 2020 fell to an all-time low of 0.16%. The lender’s foreclosure process also dropped by 61% compared to the previous year.
Oregon, Kansas, Arkansas, and Nevada were the states that experienced the most significant decline in foreclosure starts, followed by metropolitan areas like Jacksonville, Las Vegas, Washington, and Memphis.
Are foreclosures increasing in 2021?
Based on the given data, foreclosure activity has been increasing month-over-month thus far. Will it stay that way? We can only speculate.
However, we know that in the Q1 of 2021, there have been 33,699 foreclosure filings, bank repossessions, default notices, or scheduled auctions. If we do the math, that’s 9% more than the prior quarter but 78% less than the preceding year.
How much does a foreclosure cost a lender?
Lender foreclosure costs make about 26% of mortgage loan amounts. Why so much? This is mainly because lenders have to consider various expenses, like property maintenance services (that cost $69–$225 per month), title preparations fees, auction sales, etc.
In other words, foreclosures are costly to lenders as well.
Where to find foreclosed homes?
Suppose you want to buy a foreclosed property. In that case, USA foreclosure statistics will tell you that the best way to go would be to contact a real estate agent who specializes in foreclosures; in 2019 alone, real estate agents sold over 5 million homes.
At any rate, you’ll need all the information you can get on the redemption period, the state of the home, and the right market value of the property.
If this isn’t an option for you, there are always listings on bank websites, auction houses, or you could drive through your town and check out foreclosure signs.
Are there still a lot of foreclosures?
With COVID-19 spreading across the nation, many banks have suspended foreclosures to help American homeowners in these challenging times.
After this period, though, analysts expect a rise in the rate of foreclosed homes as more borrowers start losing their jobs and missing mortgage payments.
Foreclosure Statistics Final Remarks
As a homeowner, you can never be too sure of anything.
Don’t let declining foreclosure statistics lull you into a false sense of security. Consider all the factors before taking out a mortgage, check lenders and the terms they offer and then double-check them again.
And most importantly, be aware of all the options at your disposal.
