US Home Foreclosures Rise for 12th Straight Month, Affecting Nearly 40K Homeowners

Foreclosure filings jump 20% compared to last year, raising concerns about housing affordability crisis

Mar. 13, 2026 at 5:50pm

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The number of Americans facing home foreclosures jumped for the 12th month in a row last month, hitting the owners of nearly 40,000 homes and raising concerns about the housing affordability crisis, according to a new report. Foreclosure activity in February marked the 12th consecutive month of annual increases, with both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures remaining higher than a year ago.

Why it matters

The cost of homeownership has increasingly soared out of reach for many Americans, with the average family needing to earn $110,000 a year to own a typical home. This foreclosure trend is a concerning indicator of the ongoing housing affordability crisis, which could be exacerbated by economic pressures like rising oil prices and inflation.

The details

In February, 38,840 US properties faced foreclosure filings of all kinds, including default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions – a 20% jump compared with the same month last year. Lenders started the foreclosure process on 25,928 US properties in February – a 14% jump from the same period a year ago. Additionally, 4,077 US properties were repossessed through completed foreclosures, a 35% yearly increase.

  • In February 2026, 38,840 US properties faced foreclosure filings.
  • In February 2026, lenders started the foreclosure process on 25,928 US properties, a 14% jump from the same period a year ago.
  • In February 2026, 4,077 US properties were repossessed through completed foreclosures, a 35% yearly increase.

The players

ATTOM

A data provider that released the report on the rise in US home foreclosures.

Rob Barber

The CEO of ATTOM, who commented on the 12th consecutive month of annual increases in foreclosure activity.

Redfin

A real estate broker that found the average family needs to earn $110,000 a year to own a typical home, about 29% higher than the median household income.

President Trump

Has unveiled several initiatives aimed at addressing the housing affordability crisis, including a $200 billion mortgage bond-buying spree and a homebuying ban on large investors.

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What they’re saying

“Foreclosure activity in February marked the 12th consecutive month of annual increases, extending a gradual upward trend that began early last year.”

— Rob Barber, CEO, ATTOM

What’s next

President Trump's initiatives aimed at addressing the housing affordability crisis, including the $200 billion mortgage bond-buying spree and homebuying ban on large investors, will be closely watched to see if they have a wide-reaching impact on the foreclosure trend.

The takeaway

The rise in US home foreclosures for the 12th straight month, affecting nearly 40,000 homeowners, is a concerning indicator of the ongoing housing affordability crisis. This trend could be exacerbated by broader economic pressures, underscoring the need for effective policy solutions to address the root causes of this issue.