A short sale and foreclosure both involve mortgage distress, but they are not the same thing. A short sale is a sale of the home for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, usually with the lender or servicer’s approval. Foreclosure is the legal process that can allow a lender to sell the home … Read more
Pre-foreclosure is the stage when a homeowner is behind on mortgage payments and the lender or servicer may be moving toward foreclosure, but the home has not yet been sold at a foreclosure sale. For homeowners, this period is critical because options may still exist. For buyers, pre-foreclosure properties can look like opportunities, but they … Read more
Foreclosure activity is rising again in 2026, but the data does not yet point to a nationwide foreclosure crisis. ATTOM’s May 2026 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report showed 40,355 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings, including default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions. That was down 5% from April but up 14% from May 2025. ATTOM also … Read more