Foreclosures near pre-COVID levels

California-based real estate data platform ATTOM reports that nationwide foreclosure filings — default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — rose 13 percent in the first six months of 2023 from the same time period a year ago and were up 185 percent from the same time period two years ago.

ATTOM’s “Midyear 2023 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report” said there were 185,580 U.S. properties in some stage of foreclosure.

“Similar to the first half of 2022, foreclosure activity across the United States maintained its upward trajectory, gradually approaching pre-pandemic levels in{mprestriction ids="1,3"} the first half of 2023,” said Rob Barber, CEO of ATTOM. “Although overall foreclosure activity remains below historical norms, the notable surge in foreclosure starts indicates that we may continue to see a rise in foreclosure activity in the coming years.”

States that saw the greatest increase in foreclosure activity compared to a year ago in the first half of 2023 included Maryland (up 100 percent), Oregon (up 99 percent), Alaska (up 95 percent), West Virginia (up 83 percent) and Arkansas (up 72 percent).

Utah ranked No. 29 in foreclosure percentage with 1,045 properties — 0.09 percent of mortgages — in trouble. Nationwide, 0.13 percent of all housing units (one in every 752) had a foreclosure filing in the first half of 2023.{/mprestriction}