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Article Courtesy of Channel
13 News Spectrum
By Massiel Leyva
Published August 2, 2026
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WATCH VIDEO |
ORLANDO — Florida is leading the nation in foreclosure filings as
housing-related costs continue to rise, according to a newly released report by
property data company ATTOM.
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In Central Florida,
Osceola County is among the top four counties statewide for
foreclosure filings, according to the report. Experts said
the trend is being driven by a combination of factors,
including the cost of living, homeowners insurance,
homeowners association fees, property taxes, and the
lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ATTOM reported that foreclosure filings nationwide rose 21%
in the first half of 2026, compared with the same period in
2025. More than 39,000 properties nationwide received
default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions,
according to the report.
Central Florida real estate agent Ali Partovi said rising
housing costs can put additional pressure on homeowners who
were already close to the limit of what they could afford. |
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“Homeowners insurance, property taxes, those all weigh in on your monthly
mortgage payment,” Partovi said. “So that does not help those borrowers that
were right on the brink or stretching to the limits of qualifications.”
Chris Atwell, president and board chairman of the Orlando Regional Realtor
Association, said foreclosure activity also reflects a backlog from the
COVID-19 era, when many proceedings were paused.
“The COVID era of our nation's history and Florida's history caused a lot of
foreclosure proceedings to be paused,” Atwell said. “And now we're seeing a
catch-up of people that maybe for years have not paid their mortgage or
otherwise had financial difficulty, unfortunately, being foreclosed on.”
Since 2020, foreclosure filings have increased 71%, according to ATTOM. The
company found Florida recorded the highest average annual foreclosure
filings per ZIP code, at 4,871, followed by New Jersey, Delaware, Nevada,
and South Carolina.
Atwell said economic uncertainty can also contribute to an increase in
foreclosures.
“Any time there's instability or even fear of instability within the
economy, it can create ripple effects,” Atwell said. “And oftentimes,
unfortunately, part of one of those ripples is foreclosure activity
increasing.”
Partovi said loss of income is often a primary factor when homeowners fall
behind on payments. He said illness and divorce can also contribute to
foreclosure proceedings.
For homeowners facing foreclosure, experts said taking action early can make
a difference.
“Don't ignore it because you can reach out to your lender, the service loan
provider,” Partovi said. “They have programs. There are ways that they can
help you out by either trying to restructure the loan, take payments that
were due or past due payments, and add them toward the end of it where they
modify the loan.”
Experts also recommend that prospective buyers make sure they can
comfortably afford their monthly payments before purchasing a home. They
also advise homeowners to keep at least six months of reserves available to
cover housing expenses in case of an emergency.
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