The Most Foreclosure-Heavy States in America

Fewer Foreclosures in America

Foreclosure rates went down across the country last month, as one in every 1,268 U.S. housing units had a foreclosure filing in November. A monthly report from real estate data company RealtyTrac outlines foreclosure activity in each state and the District of Columbia, considering any property with a notice of default, scheduled auction or bank repossession filing to be in some stage of foreclosure. Last month, one in every 1,147 U.S. housing units had a foreclosure filing.

For the most part, the states with the highest foreclosure rankings maintained their status, even as foreclosure rates declined. In fact, the share of homes entering the foreclosure process for the first time (foreclosure starts) dropped 15% from October, ultimately falling to a nearly 10-year low. Only 12 states saw an increase in foreclosure activity at all, and most of them had pretty low rates to begin with.

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Going in a Good Direction

Some of the biggest changes occurred in Indiana and Georgia, but for different reasons. In Indiana, the share of homes entering the foreclosure process for the first time (foreclosure starts) increased nearly 132% from October to November, while Georgia had a flood of bank repossessions (foreclosure completions): The share of homes exiting the foreclosure process increased almost 72% from the prior year. These changes bumped both Indiana and Georgia into the 10 states with the highest foreclosure rates in November.

Foreclosure impacts homeowners of all kinds. Those who are struggling to make payments face the stress of losing their homes and the seriously negative effect foreclosure has on their credit scores. (You can see how your home loan affects your credit by viewing your free credit report summary on Credit.com every month.) Meanwhile, homeowners who live near foreclosed homes can see a negative impact on their property values, which can complicate efforts to sell their homes, refinance or get rid of private mortgage insurance. Generally, it’s a good thing that foreclosure rates are going down in the U.S., but it’s still very common in a lot of places.

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10. North Carolina

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,139 housing units
Change from October: down 21% (down from 7th)
Change from November 2014: down 7%

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9. Indiana

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,089
Change from October: up 15% (up from 17th)
Change from November 2014: down 14%

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8. Georgia

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,083
Change from October: up 15% (up from 16th)
Change from November 2014: down 5%

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7. Ohio

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 1,014
Change from October: down 5% (up from 8th)
Change from November 2014: down 15%

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6. South Carolina

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 873
Change from October: down 14% (same ranking)
Change from November 2014: up 7%

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5. Illinois

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 859
Change from October: down 21% (same ranking)
Change from November 2014: down 1%

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4. Nevada

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 771
Change from October: down 23% (same ranking)
Change from November 2014: up 2%

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3. Florida

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 662
Change from October: down 13% (same ranking)
Change from November 2014: down 30%

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2. New Jersey

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 553
Change from October: down 15% (same ranking)
Change from November 2014: down 13%

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1. Maryland

November foreclosure rate: 1 in every 516
Change from October: down 10% (same ranking)
Change from November 2014: up 13%

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