In August 2020, ** percent of respondents who became homeowners during the COVID-19 pandemic said they took advantage of the low mortgage interest rates. On the other hand, ** percent of them said that the coronavirus pandemic didn't play any role in them becoming homeowners. The homeownership rate rose to almost ** percent in the second quarter of 2020.

As a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis, many people worldwide faced job insecurity and income disruption. For mortgage borrowers in the United States, this means increased risk of delayed loan repayment, default and foreclosure.

In April 2020, the share of single-family housing mortgages owned by Freddie Mac that were in forbearance and delinquent for ** days spiked to ** percent. One year later, as of April 2021, approximately ** percent of the mortgage loans in forbearance were delinquent for over *** days.

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the lockdowns during this period had an impact on the attitudes of prospective home buyers in the United Kingdom (UK) in different ways. On one hand, there was a large percentage of prospective home buyers of ** percent that said COVID-19 motivated them to buy homes between ********** and **********.
However, concerns of financial security and the home buying process being harder were also registered at high rates. ** percent of prospective home buyers were worried about their financial security, ** percent reported that lockdowns made it harder to buy homes. This shows that while the motivation and interest in buying homes was large, but the conditions of lockdown and the financial impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic were a big barrier towards making purchases.

From May to June 2020, the commercial mortgage delinquency rate in the hotel sector in the United States went up from two percent to 11.49 percent. The leisure and hospitality sector was one of the most affected sectors by the COVID-19 pandemic. As for the multifamily sector, the delinquency rate increased only by 0.18 percent in that time period.

CMHC’s safety measures and precautions in response to the coronavirus.

New Zealand First Mortage Housing Rates data was reported at 6.910 % pa in Mar 2025. This records a decrease from the previous number of 6.920 % pa for Feb 2025. New Zealand First Mortage Housing Rates data is updated monthly, averaging 8.270 % pa from Feb 1964 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 734 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 20.500 % pa in Jun 1987 and a record low of 4.370 % pa in Jun 2021. New Zealand First Mortage Housing Rates data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Reserve Bank of New Zealand. The data is categorized under Global Database’s New Zealand – Table NZ.M006: Mortgage, Lending and Deposit Rates. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

In the second quarter of 2024, the share one-to-four family residential mortgage loans entering the foreclosure process in the U.S. was **** percent. Following the coronavirus pandemic outbreak in 2020, mortgage delinquency rates surged, followed by a gradual decline. Between the second quarter of 2020 and the first quarter of 2022, foreclosures remained at record low levels due to The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

This map shows households that spend 30 percent or more of their income on housing, a threshold widely used by many affordable housing advocates and official government sources including Housing and Urban Development. Census asks about income and housing costs to understand whether housing is affordable in local communities. When housing is not sufficient or not affordable, income data helps communities: Enroll eligible households in programs designed to assist them.Qualify for grants from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership Program, Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG), Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA), and other programs.When rental housing is not affordable, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) uses rent data to determine the amount of tenant subsidies in housing assistance programs.Map opens in Atlanta. Use the bookmarks or search bar to view other cities. Data is symbolized to show the relationship between burdensome housing costs for owner households with a mortgage and renter households:This map uses these hosted feature layers containing the most recent American Community Survey data. These layers are part of the ArcGIS Living Atlas, and are updated every year when the American Community Survey releases new estimates, so values in the map always reflect the newest data available.

In a March 2020 survey, the development related to COVID-19 which had most affect home buying or selling plans in the United States was the drop in mortgage rates, which was cited by **** percent of the respondents. Fear of recession and stock market volatility followed behind at ** and ** percent, respectively. For further information about the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, please visit our dedicated Facts and Figures page.

The composition of bank funding has changed considerably since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing not only the importance of Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLB) advances in times of stress but also sized-based differences in access to capital markets once the stresses abate. The latter raises the question of whether large banks in particular can replace deposit outflows with capital market funding instead of relying on contingent funding from FHLBs.

Following the drastic increase directly after the COVID-19 pandemic, the delinquency rate started to gradually decline, falling below *** percent in the second quarter of 2023. In the second half of 2023, the delinquency rate picked up but remained stable throughout 2024. In the second quarter of 2025, **** percent of mortgage loans were delinquent. That was significantly lower than the **** percent during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 or the peak of *** 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 eventually manage to service their loan, though, as indicated by the markedly lower foreclosure rates. Total home mortgage debt in the U.S. stood at almost ** trillion U.S. dollars in 2024. 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 ** percent around this time. These higher delinquency rates translate into higher foreclosure rates, which peaked at just under ** percent of all subprime mortgages in 2011.

In 2022, Portugal overturned the sinking mortgage interest rate it had gone through during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The country did not escape from the overall trend of falling mortgage interest rates observed in Europe during the COVID-19 crisis, which positioned national mortgage interest rates at **** percent in the fourth quarter of 2021. Interest rates as a weapon against inflation Even though interest rates are affected by economic growth, monetary policies, the bond market, the stability of lenders, and the overall conditions of the housing market, inflation currently leads the European Central Bank (ECB)’s decisions regarding them. As inflation had been low in Europe since the 2008 financial crisis, the ECB lowered interest rates in an attempt to promote economic growth. However, the economic difficulties brought up by the coronavirus pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian war have fueled inflation. To counteract this rise, the ECB increased interest rates. Portugal’s abrupt rise in interest rates on new residential loans from **** percent in 2021 to **** percent in 2023 demonstrates the balanced and calculated act between the two financial indices. High interest rates and low mortgage lending Compared to other European nations, Portugal has a low gross residential mortgage lending. In the third and fourth quarters of 2022, mortgage lending decreased in the country due to rising interest rates and worsening economic conditions, but have increased dramatically until 2024. Despite being in a rising trajectory in terms of outstanding residential mortgage lending since the second quarter of 2021, 2023 registered decreasing figures caused by the same economic contingencies. 2024 shows a different trend, however.

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 **** percent of current loans in forbearance.

The foreclosure rate in the United States has experienced significant fluctuations over the past two decades, reaching its peak in 2010 at **** percent following the financial crisis. Since then, the rate has steadily declined, with a notable drop to **** percent in 2021 due to government interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2024, the rate stood slightly higher at **** 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 *** 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, ** percent of non-homeowners reported that student loan expenses hindered their ability to save for a down payment.

Mortgage rates surged at an unprecedented pace in 2022, with the average 10-year fixed rate doubling between March and December of that year. In response to mounting inflation, the Bank of England implemented a series of rate hikes, pushing borrowing costs steadily higher. By October 2025, the average 10-year fixed mortgage rate stood at **** percent. As financing becomes more expensive, housing demand has cooled, weighing on market sentiment and slowing house price growth. How have the mortgage hikes affected the market? After surging in 2021, the number of residential properties sold fell significantly in 2023, dipping to just above *** million transactions. This contraction in activity also dampened mortgage lending. Between the first quarter of 2023 and the first quarter of 2024, the value of new mortgage loans declined year-on-year for five consecutive quarters. Even as rates eased modestly in 2024 and housing activity picked up slightly, volumes remained well below the highs recorded in 2021. How are higher mortgages impacting homebuyers? For homeowners, the impact is being felt most acutely as fixed-rate deals expire. Mortgage terms in the UK typically range from two to ten years, and many borrowers who locked in historically low rates are now facing significantly higher repayments when refinancing. By the end of 2026, an estimated five million homeowners will see their mortgage deals expire. Roughly two million of these loans are projected to experience a monthly payment increase of up to *** British pounds by 2026, putting additional pressure on household budgets and constraining affordability across the market.

The average sales price of new homes in the United States experienced a slight decrease in 2024, dropping to 512,2000 U.S. dollars from the peak of 521,500 U.S. dollars in 2022. This decline came after years of substantial price increases, with the average price surpassing 400,000 U.S. dollars for the first time in 2021. The recent cooling in the housing market reflects broader economic trends and changing consumer sentiment towards homeownership. Factors influencing home prices and affordability The rapid rise in home prices over the past few years has been driven by several factors, including historically low mortgage rates and increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the market has since slowed down, with the number of home sales declining by over two million between 2021 and 2023. This decline can be attributed to rising mortgage rates and decreased affordability. The Housing Affordability Index hit a record low of 98.1 in 2023, indicating that the median-income family could no longer afford a median-priced home. Future outlook for the housing market Despite the recent cooling, experts forecast a potential recovery in the coming years. The Freddie Mac House Price Index showed a growth of 6.5 percent in 2023, which is still above the long-term average of 4.4 percent since 1990. However, homebuyer sentiment remains low across all age groups, with people aged 45 to 64 expressing the most pessimistic outlook. The median sales price of existing homes is expected to increase slightly until 2025, suggesting that affordability challenges may persist in the near future.

The mortgage delinquency rate for Veterans Administration (VA) loans in the United States has decreased since 2020. Under the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the mortgage delinquency rate for VA loans spiked from **** percent in the first quarter of 2020 to **** percent in the second quarter of the year. In the second quarter of 2024, the delinquency rate amounted to **** percent. Historically, VA mortgages have significantly lower delinquency rate than conventional mortgages.

The period from March to August 2020 saw noticeably weaker demand for home loans in Poland. This state results from the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in Poland in March 2020. The highest decline in the demand for housing loans was recorded in August 2022 due to the high inflation. One of the main reasons for the decline in demand was also tightening and rising interest rates that reduced the creditworthiness of potential borrowers. As of June 2025, the demand for mortgage loans continues to evolve, with the latest data indicating a value of **** percent. Loan market in Poland In 2023, the net value of loans to households in Poland was *** billion zloty, representing a decrease of *** percent over the previous year. In this period, in terms of credit type, the highest value was achieved by real estate loans granted to households. Their value amounted to over *** billion zloty, followed by consumer loans with a total value of nearly *** billion zloty. Mortgage loans in Poland In 2023, there has been a continuing trend of decreasing the popularity of housing loans up to 100,000 zloty. A growing number of Poles have taken out loans of the value of over ******* zloty. And the average value of a mortgage loan in 2023 increased by ** percent compared to the previous year and amounted to nearly ******* zloty. In this period, Poland’s number of active mortgage loans also decreased, reaching nearly *** million.

In the second quarter of 2025, the share of mortgage loans in the foreclosure process in the U.S. decreased slightly to **** percent. Following the outbreak of the coronavirus crisis, the mortgage delinquency rate spiked to the highest levels since the subprime mortgage crisis (2007-2010). To prevent further impact on homeowners, Congress passed the CARES Act, which provides foreclosure protections for borrowers with federally backed mortgage loans. As a result, the foreclosure rate fell to historically low levels.

According to a survey conducted among 2,000 adults in the United Kingdom (UK), in December 2023, the majority of respondents found the affordability of mortgage repayments the biggest barrier to a property purchase. Between 2021 and 2023, the share of respondents who chose mortgage affordability as the main challenge rose 39 percent to 68 percent. This was due to the dramatic increase in house prices since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic and the mortgage rates hike in 2022.