Rob Barber reports that U.S. foreclosure filings rose 21 percent in the first half of 2026 as the market returns to typical patterns.

Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, reported that U.S. foreclosure filings reached 227,548 in the first half of 2026, marking a 21 percent increase over the previous year. This rise indicates that the housing market is gradually returning to more typical patterns following the pandemic. While foreclosure rates remain significantly lower than those seen during the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis, the data suggests that many homeowners are facing increased financial strain due to rising costs for taxes, insurance, and household expenses. Florida recorded the nation's highest foreclosure rate, with one in every 2,106 housing units facing a filing. Conversely, Vermont reported the lowest rate in the country. The report also noted that foreclosure timelines are shortening, with properties in the second quarter of 2026 spending an average of 563 days in the process—the shortest duration since 2013. Experts suggest that while the increase is a correction from artificially suppressed pandemic levels, the concentration of risk remains high in the Southeast and Mountain West regions.

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