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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