U.S. Foreclosure Activity Went Way Up in October

A Big Jump in Foreclosures

Foreclosure activity in the U.S. spiked about 27% from September to October — the largest month-over-month increase in foreclosures since August 2007, according to a report from the real-estate focused company ATTOM Data Solutions. One in every 1,258 residential housing units had a foreclosure filing in October, and while the foreclosure rate is higher than it was in September, it’s still lower than it was at the same time last year.

ATTOM defines foreclosure activity as a property whose owner has received a notice of default on the mortgage, is scheduled for auction or has been repossessed by the bank (basically the beginning, middle and end of the foreclosure process, though these terms and procedures vary by state). Much of the foreclosure activity in recent months came by way of bank repossessions, but foreclosure filings of all kinds increased from September to October.

“The increase in October isn’t enough evidence to indicate a new foreclosure crisis emerging in these states, but it certainly demonstrates that this housing recovery is not completely devoid of risk,” said Daren Blomquist, senior vice president at ATTOM, in a press release about the report. “The loans used in this housing recovery that appear to be most susceptible to foreclosure are those such as FHA and VA with low down payments.”

Defaults Across the Country

Forty-six states reported a month-over-month increase in foreclosure activity, meaning homeowners all over the country may be struggling to make their home loan payments. And as much as making a late payment on your mortgage can hurt your credit, losing your home to foreclosure can damage your credit for far longer. If your mortgage payments are a challenge, consider reaching out to your lender for help, take a look at this guide on how to save your home from foreclosure and keep an eye on how your loan affects your credit. (You can do that by getting your free credit report summary every two weeks on Credit.com and getting your free annual credit reports.)

Because only four states and the District of Columbia saw a drop in their foreclosure rate from September to October, the list of the 10 states with the highest foreclosure rates remains relatively similar to what it’s been in recent months. Here’s where foreclosures were most common in October.

10. Georgia

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,028 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 61.97% (was No. 15)
Change from October 2015: up 21.96% (was No. 16)

9. Pennsylvania

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,018 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 47.92% (was No. 12)
Change from October 2015: up 19.98% (was No. 13)

8. Ohio

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 930 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 45.25% (was No. 11)
Change from October 2015: up 4.29% (was No. 8)

7. Florida

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 895 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 6.2% (was No. 5)
Change from October 2015: down 34.93% (was No. 3)

6. Nevada

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 826 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 8.63% (was No. 3)
Change from October 2015: down 27.71% (was No. 4)

5. South Carolina

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 801 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 30.92% (was No. 7)
Change from October 2015: down 5.47% (was No. 6)

4. Illinois

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 704 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 34.35% (was No. 4)
Change from October 2015: down 3.26% (was No. 5)

3. Maryland

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 679 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 40.71% (was No. 6)
Change from October 2015: down 31.02% (was No. 1)

2. New Jersey

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 564 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 22.57% (was No. 2)
Change from October 2015: down 16.22% (was No. 2)

1. Delaware

October 2016 foreclosure rate: 1 in every 355 housing units
Change from September 2016: up 91.24% (was No. 1)
Change from October 2015: up 226.84% (was No. 11)