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U.S. Foreclosure Filings Rise 10% in July as Pressures Persist

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U.S. foreclosure filings rose 10% in July compared with a year earlier, according to HousingWire coverage of ATTOM’s July 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, even as overall activity stayed below long-term historic levels. Houston and Harris County homeowners should pay attention because Texas was among the five states with the highest foreclosure rates that month—a national signal that financial strain is still showing up in some households, including here in Texas.

What the national foreclosure numbers show

ATTOM counted 39,906 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings in July. That total covers default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions. Filings were up 1% from June and 10% from July 2025.

Those year-over-year gains do not mean the market has returned to crisis-era levels. HousingWire’s report stresses that foreclosure activity remains relatively low by historical standards. Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM, put it this way: the rise in foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures versus last year shows financial pressures remain a factor for some homeowners, but the broader picture still looks restrained compared with past peaks.

State-level rates help explain where pressure was most visible. Nevada had the highest foreclosure rate in July, with one filing for every 1,703 housing units. South Carolina followed at one in every 2,085 units, and Florida ranked third at one in every 2,232 units. Delaware and Texas rounded out the top five. The report does not break out Houston or Harris County figures in the HousingWire summary, so local volume is not quantified here—only that Texas sat among the highest statewide rates nationally.

  • 39,906 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings in July
  • 1% increase from June
  • 10% increase from July 2025
  • Activity still described as low versus historic norms
  • Texas among the five highest state foreclosure rates

What this usually means for Texas and Houston homeowners

This article is educational and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. The ATTOM data summarized by HousingWire is a national report. It does not publish Houston-specific filing counts in the source coverage, and no local percentage for Harris County appears there. What homeowners can take from it is directional: when national filings climb and Texas appears in the top five rates, it usually means more Texas households are entering default, heading toward auction, or completing repossession than a year ago—even if absolute levels remain modest by historical standards.

For Houston-area owners, that pattern often shows up first as missed payments stacking up, then as formal notices, then as auction scheduling if the loan is not brought current or modified. A national uptick does not predict any one family’s outcome. It does suggest that lenders and servicers are processing more distressed loans than they were last summer, and that Texas is not insulated from that trend.

It also matters that month-to-month movement was small—just 1% from June—while the year-over-year jump was larger. That mix often points to a gradual climb rather than a sudden spike. Homeowners who are already behind may feel that pressure more than neighbors who are current. If your payment history is solid, the headline is still useful context: statewide rankings can shift, and staying current remains the strongest protection against entering the foreclosure pipeline.

Warning signs and practical next steps

Foreclosure filings in ATTOM’s tally include more than completed bank takeovers. Default notices and scheduled auctions are part of the count. That means many of the 39,906 properties were still in earlier stages, when options to catch up, refinance (when available), sell, or seek a workout may still be on the table. Waiting until an auction date is set usually narrows those choices.

Warning signs to take seriously include:

  • Falling more than one payment behind, or using credit cards and payday loans to cover the mortgage
  • Receiving a default notice, acceleration letter, or other formal delinquency mail from the servicer
  • Seeing your loan referred to foreclosure counsel or learning that an auction has been scheduled
  • Job loss, reduced hours, medical bills, or insurance gaps after a storm that make the next payment uncertain

If any of those apply, act early. Contact your mortgage servicer in writing and by phone, ask what loss-mitigation options they offer, and document every conversation. Review your budget for temporary relief you can sustain. If you own a Houston-area home and want a calm review of where you stand, reach out through our contact page—we help homeowners understand options without pressure.

A 10% national rise is a reminder that financial pressure is still present for some households, even while overall foreclosure activity stays below historic norms. Texas’s place among the top five rates makes that reminder local enough to take seriously. Checking your status now is usually easier than responding after an auction is set.

Source: HousingWire — Foreclosure filings rise 10% annually in July, ATTOM says

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