The foreclosure rate in the United States has experienced significant fluctuations over the past two decades, reaching its peak in 2010 at 2.23 percent following the financial crisis. Since then, the rate has steadily declined, with a notable drop to 0.11 percent in 2021 due to government interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the rate stood slightly higher at 0.23 percent but remained well below historical averages, indicating a relatively stable housing market. Impact of economic conditions on foreclosures The foreclosure rate is closely tied to broader economic trends and housing market conditions. During the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis, the share of non-performing mortgage loans climbed significantly, with loans 90 to 180 days past due reaching 4.6 percent. Since then, the share of seriously delinquent loans has dropped notably, demonstrating a substantial improvement in mortgage performance. Among other things, the improved mortgage performance has to do with changes in the mortgage approval process. Homebuyers are subject to much stricter lending standards, such as higher credit score requirements. These changes ensure that borrowers can meet their payment obligations and are at a lower risk of defaulting and losing their home. Challenges for potential homebuyers Despite the low foreclosure rates, potential homebuyers face significant challenges in the current market. Homebuyer sentiment worsened substantially in 2021 and remained low across all age groups through 2024, with the 45 to 64 age group expressing the most negative outlook. Factors contributing to this sentiment include high housing costs and various financial obligations. For instance, in 2023, 52 percent of non-homeowners reported that student loan expenses hindered their ability to save for a down payment.

Graph and download economic data for Large Bank Consumer Mortgage Balances: 60 or More Days Past Due: Including Foreclosures Rates: Balances Based (RCMFLBBALDPDPCT60P) from Q3 2012 to Q3 2024 about 60 days +, FR Y-14M, large, balance, mortgage, consumer, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

United States - Delinquency Rate on Loans Secured by Real Estate, Banks Ranked 1st to 100th Largest in Size by Assets was 1.91% in October of 2024, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Delinquency Rate on Loans Secured by Real Estate, Banks Ranked 1st to 100th Largest in Size by Assets reached a record high of 11.49 in January of 2010 and a record low of 1.31 in October of 2004. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Delinquency Rate on Loans Secured by Real Estate, Banks Ranked 1st to 100th Largest in Size by Assets - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on March of 2025.

Following the drastic increase directly after the COVID-19 pandemic, the delinquency rate started to gradually decline, falling to 3.37 percent in the second quarter of 2023. In the four quarters, the delinquency rate increased slightly, reaching 3.97 percent. That was significantly lower than the 8.22 percent during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the second quarter of 2020 or the peak of 9.3 percent during the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007-2010. What does the mortgage delinquency rate tell us?The mortgage delinquency rate is the share of the total number of mortgaged home loans in the U.S. where payment is overdue by 30 days or more. Many borrowers are eventually able to service their loan, though, as indicated by the markedly lower foreclosure rates. Total home mortgage debt in the U.S. stood at almost 13 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. Not all mortgage loans are made equal‘Subprime’ loans, being targeted at high-risk borrowers and generally coupled with higher interest rates to compensate for the risk. These loans have far higher delinquency rates than conventional loans. Defaulting on such loans was one of the triggers for the 2007-2010 financial crisis, with subprime delinquency rates reaching almost 26 percent around this time. These higher delinquency rates translate into higher foreclosure rates, which peaked at just under 15 percent of all subprime mortgages in 2011.

Graph and download economic data for Nonfarm Real Estate Foreclosures for United States (M09075USM476NNBR) from Jan 1934 to Mar 1963 about real estate, nonfarm, and USA.

The mortgage delinquency rate for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans in the United States declined since 2020, when it peaked at 15.65 percent. In the second quarter of 2024, 10.6 percent of FHA loans were delinquent. Historically, FHA mortgages have the highest delinquency rate of all mortgage types.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Single-Family Residential Mortgages, Booked in Domestic Offices, All Commercial Banks (DRSFRMACBS) from Q1 1991 to Q4 2024 about domestic offices, delinquencies, 1-unit structures, mortgage, family, residential, commercial, domestic, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Delinquency Rate on Commercial Real Estate Loans (Excluding Farmland), Booked in Domestic Offices, All Commercial Banks (DRCRELEXFACBS) from Q1 1991 to Q4 2024 about farmland, domestic offices, delinquencies, real estate, commercial, domestic, loans, banks, depository institutions, rate, and USA.

The year 2021 saw the peak in issuance of residential mortgage backed securities (MBS), at 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars. Since then, MBS issuance has slowed, reaching 1.2 trillion U.S. dollars in 2023. What are mortgage backed securities? A mortgage backed security is a financial instrument in which mortgages are bundled together and sold to investors. The idea is that the risk of these individual mortgages is pooled when they are packaged together. This is a sound investment policy, unless the foreclosure rate increases significantly in a short amount of time. Mortgage risk Since mortgages are loans backed by an asset, the house, the risk is often considered relatively low. However, the loan maturities are very long, sometimes decades, meaning lenders must factor in the risk of a shift in the economic climate. As such, interest rates on longer mortgages tend to be higher than on shorter loans. The ten-year treasury yield influences these rates, since it is a long-term rate that most investors accept as risk-free. Additionally, a decline in the value of homeowner equity could lead to a situation where the debtor is “underwater” and owes more than the home is worth.

The share of mortgages in arrears in Canada decreased for the third year in a row in 2022, reaching tan all-time low. As of December 2022, the rate of mortgage arrears was 0.15 percent, down from 0.42 percent in 2009, when the highest rate was observed. Among the different provinces, the arrears rate was the highest in Saskatchewan at 0.63 percent in December 2023.

As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, many people worldwide faced job insecurity and loss of income. For mortgage borrowers in the United States, this means increased default and foreclosure risk. Forbearance is a type of borrower assistance which allows the lender to negotiate a temporary postponement of a mortgage repayment. It allows a payment period relief in lieu of the creditor foreclosing on any property that was used as collateral for the loan.

As of March 2022, New York was one of the states in the United States with highest forbearance rate for Freddie Mac single-family housing loans with approximately 0.87 percent of current loans in forbearance.

Repossessions occur when a borrower fails to repay their loan on time or a tenant is late on their rent, and the lender takes possession of the property. To avoid a spike in repossessions during the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) introduced measures for renters and mortgage borrowers. As a result, the number of repossessions fell to a record low in 2020. In the second quarter of 2024, there were 854 repossessions of mortgaged homes and 6,927 repossessions of rental properties by landlords.