states with the most foreclosures

Homeownership is a long-term commitment. But even if you’re financially stable when you buy a home, there’s no guarantee you’ll remain that way for the 15- or 30-year term of your mortgage loan.

One in every 1,882 homes is in foreclosure in the U.S., according to August 2018 data from RealtyTrac. That’s 555,120 homes total, which is 7 percent lower than the same time last year.

Some states are well below the national average. In South Dakota, for instance, only 1 in 26,121 homes is in foreclosure. Fourteen states, however, have a higher foreclosure rate than the national average, and a handful has close to double or triple the rate nationwide.

Here are the 25 states with the most foreclosures and how they compare to the national benchmark.

25. Virginia

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 2,544 homes; 0.039%
  • 74% of the national average

24. Missouri

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 2,370 homes; 0.042%
  • 79% of the national average

23. Oklahoma

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 2,322 homes; 0.043%
  • 81% of the national average

22. Georgia

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 2,209 homes; 0.045%
  • 85% of the national average

21. Louisiana

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 2,182 homes; 0.046%
  • 86% of the national average

20. California

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 2,161 homes; 0.046%
  • 87% of the national average

19. Maine

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 2,136 homes; 0.047%
  • 88% of the national average

18. Massachusetts

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 2,120 homes; 0.047%
  • 89% of the national average

17. Alabama

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,955 homes; 0.051%
  • 96% of the national average

16. Utah

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,897 homes; 0.053%
  • 99% of the national average

15. Pennsylvania

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,896 homes; 0.053%
  • 99% of the national average

14. New York

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,857 homes; 0.054%
  • 101% of the national average

13. Indiana

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,802 homes; 0.055%
  • 104% of the national average

12. Alaska

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,565 homes; 0.064%
  • 120% of the national average

11. Ohio

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,456 homes; 0.069%
  • 129% of the national average

10. New Mexico

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,448 homes; 0.069%
  • 130% of the national average

9. North Carolina

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,433 homes; 0.07%
  • 131% of the national average

8. South Carolina

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,311 homes; 0.076%
  • 144% of the national average

7. Connecticut

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,304 homes; 0.077%
  • 144% of the national average

6. Illinois

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,247 homes; 0.08%
  • 151% of the national average

5. Florida

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,209 homes; 0.083%
  • 156% of the national average

4. Delaware

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 988 homes; 0.101%
  • 190% of the national average

3. Nevada

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 965 homes; 0.104%
  • 195% of the national average

2. Maryland

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 905 homes; 0.11%
  • 208% of the national average

1. New Jersey

  • Foreclosure rate: 1 in every 685 homes; 0.146%
  • 275% of the national average

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