Foreclosure Fears vs. Facts: What Homeowners Need to Know

Are Foreclosures Really Rising? Here’s What the Data Says

Foreclosure headlines are making noise again – and they’re designed to stir up fear to get you to click. But what the data actually shows tells a very different story than what you might believe.

Yes, foreclosure starts are up 7% in the first half of 2025. But zooming out shows that’s nowhere near crisis levels. Here’s why.

Filings Are Still Far Below Crash Levels

Even with the recent uptick, overall foreclosure filings are still very low. In the first half of 2025, just 0.13% of homes had a foreclosure filing – less than 1% of homes nationwide.

For perspective, ATTOM reports that this equals about 1 in every 758 homes nationwide. Compare that to 2010 during the housing crash when it was 1 in every 45 homes.

Why Today’s Market Is Different

Leading up to the 2008 crash, risky lending practices left many homeowners with payments they couldn’t afford. When they fell behind, they had little or no equity in their homes, forcing them into foreclosure.

Today’s market looks nothing like that. Lending standards are stronger, and homeowners have record levels of equity. If they face financial hardship, they can often sell their home and still walk away with money in their pocket rather than face foreclosure.

As Rick Sharga, Founder of CJ Patrick Company, explains:

“. . . a significant factor contributing to today’s comparatively low levels of foreclosure activity is that homeowners—including those in foreclosure—possess an unprecedented amount of home equity.”

Bottom Line

Recent headlines don’t tell the full story. While foreclosure starts have ticked up slightly, today’s numbers remain historically low and don’t indicate a market crash.

If you’re worried about foreclosure or just curious about what’s happening with home values in your area, connect with a local real estate agent who can walk you through the facts and your options.