Foreclosure Starts Rise in August, Led by Florida, Texas, California

Foreclosure activity in the United States saw an increase in August 2026, with a 1% rise in monthly filings and a 13% increase compared to August 2025. A total of 40,277 properties were involved in foreclosure filings during August, encompassing properties that received default notices, were scheduled for auction, or were repossessed by lenders. Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, stated that August's data indicates a continued upward trend in foreclosure activity compared to the previous year, particularly in completed foreclosures, which experienced a significant annual rise. Despite this increase, Barber emphasized that overall foreclosure volumes remain substantially below historical norms, and the broader housing market continues to exhibit resilience.

On a state-by-state basis, Florida recorded the highest number of new foreclosure starts with 3,189 filings. Texas followed closely with 3,126 starts, and California reported 2,565 starts. Illinois and Georgia completed the top five states for foreclosure starts, with 1,192 and 1,189 filings, respectively. When examining foreclosure rates on a per capita basis among states, South Carolina, Nevada, and Florida exhibited the highest concentrations of distressed properties. South Carolina reported one foreclosure filing for every 1,547 housing units, Nevada had one filing for every 1,920 housing units, and Florida registered a foreclosure start rate of one in every 2,397 housing units. Texas and Maryland also featured among the top five states with the highest overall concentration of distress, with foreclosure filings occurring at rates of one for every 2,445 and 2,530 housing units, respectively.

Nationally, the rate of foreclosure filings in August 2026 was one for every 3,569 housing units. Among major metropolitan areas with populations exceeding 200,000 residents, Columbia, South Carolina, reported the highest foreclosure rate in the country, with one foreclosure filing for every 1,232 housing units. Punta Gorda, Florida, which held the highest foreclosure rate in July, followed closely with a rate of one filing for every 1,249 housing units. These figures highlight specific geographic areas experiencing elevated foreclosure pressures within the broader national housing market context. The data, compiled by property data provider ATTOM, offers a detailed snapshot of foreclosure trends across the U.S. for August 2026.