Today’s Real Estate Numbers Don’t Indicate a Market in Trouble
Foreclosure headlines are making noise again – and they’re designed to stir up fear to get you to read them. But what the data shows is actually happening in the market tells a very different story than what you might be led to believe. So, before you jump to conclusions, it’s important to look at the full picture.
Yes, foreclosure starts are up 7% in the first six months of the year. 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 filed for foreclosure. That’s less than 1% of homes in this country. In fact, it’s even far less than that at under a quarter of a percent. That’s a very small fraction of all the homes out there. But like with anything else in real estate, the numbers vary by market.
Here’s the map you need to see that shows how foreclosure rates are lower than you might think, and how they differ by local area:
Today’s Numbers Don’t Indicate a Market in Trouble
But here’s what everyone remembers…
Leading up to the crash, risky lending practices left homeowners with payments they eventually couldn’t afford. That led to a situation where many homeowners were underwater on their mortgages. When they couldn’t make their payments, they had no choice but to walk away. Foreclosures surged, and the market ultimately crashed.
Today’s housing market is very different. Lending standards are stronger. Homeowners have near record levels of equity. And when someone hits financial trouble, that equity means many people can sell their home 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.”
No one wants to see a homeowner struggle. But if you’re a homeowner facing hardship, talk to your mortgage provider. You may have more options than you think.
Bottom Line
Recent headlines may not tell the whole story, but the data does. Foreclosure activity remains low by historical standards and is not a sign of another crash.
If you’re simply watching the market and want to understand what’s really going on, or how this impacts the value of your home, connect with an agent. They’ll help you separate fact from fear by showing you what the data really says
