Foreclosure Rates Down, but SC Has Second-Highest Rate in Nation

ATTOM, the leading provider of property data, AI-powered analytics, and real estate intelligence solutions, earlier this week released its April 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 42,430 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings— default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions — down 8 percent from a month ago and up 18 percent from a year ago.

South Carolina’s foreclosure rate is among the nation’s highest, second only to Delaware.

"Foreclosure activity continued its gradual trend higher in April, with both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures posting annual gains," said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM. "While overall filings declined from the previous month, the year-over-year increases suggest lenders may be working through distressed inventory as higher borrowing costs and affordability challenges impact some homeowners. Even so, foreclosure activity remains significantly below pre-pandemic levels."

One in every 3,388 housing units nationwide had a foreclosure filing in April 2026. Delaware posted the nation's worst foreclosure rate at one in every 1,739 housing units with a foreclosure filing.  South Carolina followed closely behind (one in every 1,745 housing units), followed by Florida (one in every 2,092 housing units), Indiana (one in every 2,129 housing units), and Illinois (one in every 2,262 housing units).

Among metro areas with populations of 500,000 or more, Lakeland, Florida, recorded the worst foreclosure rate in April 2026, with one filing for every 1,221 housing units.  Following Lakeland were Columbia, South Carolina (one in every 1,287); Charleston, South Carolina (one in every 1,483); Bakersfield, California (one in every 1,566); and Cape Coral, Florida (one in every 1,628 housing units).

In April 2026, lenders started the foreclosure process on 28,414 U.S. properties, down 6 percent from the previous month but up 12 percent from a year ago.

States with the highest number of foreclosure starts in April 2026 were Florida (3,505 foreclosure starts); Texas (3,154 foreclosure starts); California (2,786 foreclosure starts); Georgia (1,407 foreclosure starts); and Illinois (1,366 foreclosure starts).