Florida recorded the highest foreclosure rate in the country during the first half of 2026. According to data from ATTOM, 27,494 Florida properties had foreclosure filings from January through June. That represented approximately 0.27% of the state’s housing units, or about one in every 373 homes.
The number is important, but it does not answer the most important question for a Broward County homeowner: What does your notice, deadline, income, property and mortgage situation require you to consider?
Statewide statistics describe a trend. They do not determine what happens in your case. If you have received a foreclosure lawsuit, notice of sale, mortgage default letter or other court papers, review the actual documents before assuming that a particular option will apply.
What the Florida foreclosure numbers do: and do not: show
The recent ATTOM data shows that foreclosure activity is rising from the unusually low levels seen during the pandemic period. Florida filings were up approximately 33% from the first half of 2025 and about 37% from the first half of 2024.
Nationally, 227,548 properties had foreclosure filings during the same period. That was about 0.16% of U.S. housing units. Florida’s rate was higher than the rates reported for South Carolina, Indiana, Delaware and Illinois.
Several Florida metropolitan areas also appeared among the highest-rate areas nationally. Punta Gorda, Lakeland, Cape Coral, Jacksonville and Ocala were included in the reported rankings. The sources reviewed for this article did not provide a comparable, specific foreclosure-rate figure for Broward County.
Do not use a statewide or national statistic as a substitute for reviewing your case. A foreclosure case can turn on the service date, court deadlines, payment history, loan documents, prior agreements, pending motions and the scheduled sale date.
Start by identifying where your case stands
Foreclosure is a court process. The first practical step is to determine what has happened and what deadline comes next.
Review the documents you have received and look for:
- A foreclosure complaint or lawsuit
- A summons or other notice requiring a response
- A motion, hearing notice or court order
- A notice of sale
- Mortgage statements showing arrears, fees or payments
- Letters concerning modification, forbearance or loss mitigation
- Communications about a short sale, deed transfer or property surrender
The date on a letter may not be the only date that matters. A court filing, hearing or sale can create separate requirements. Applying for a mortgage modification also does not necessarily eliminate a court deadline.
A website form does not stop a foreclosure sale. Online communication may begin a conversation, but it does not itself create a legal filing, protect a deadline or establish representation.
Possible paths depend on your goal
There is no single foreclosure option that fits every Broward County homeowner. The appropriate path depends partly on what you are trying to accomplish.
Keeping the property
If keeping the home is your goal, the review should include your current income, regular expenses, mortgage payment, arrears and any other debts affecting your budget.
A loss-mitigation request may be one issue to discuss with the mortgage servicer. Possible arrangements can vary, and submitting an application does not guarantee approval or eliminate the need to respond in court.
The central question is not only whether a temporary arrangement is available. It is whether the proposed payment and any repayment of arrears are realistic over time.
Reviewing a defense or procedural issue
A foreclosure defense may require review of the lawsuit, mortgage documents, payment history, notices and the lender’s handling of the case. Whether an issue matters legally depends on the facts and the current posture of the litigation.
General information about defenses cannot determine whether one applies to your case. Bring the actual court papers for a case-specific review.
Considering bankruptcy
Bankruptcy may be part of the analysis when foreclosure is connected to broader financial pressure. A bankruptcy filing may trigger an automatic stay in some circumstances, but exceptions, prior bankruptcy cases, timing and requests for relief from the stay can affect what happens.
Chapter 13 bankruptcy may be considered when a homeowner has regular income and needs to address certain mortgage arrears over time. The proposed plan must be feasible, and ongoing plan and mortgage payments must remain current.
Chapter 7 bankruptcy may address qualifying unsecured debt for an eligible person. It may not provide the same way to catch up mortgage arrears, and property equity, exemptions and payment status require careful review.
Bankruptcy is not automatically a solution to a scheduled sale. The exact sale date, court posture, prior filings, income and overall debt picture should be reviewed before relying on a bankruptcy filing.
Planning an orderly transition
If keeping the property is no longer realistic or is not your goal, other possibilities may need to be evaluated. These may include selling the property, discussing a short sale, negotiating with the lender or planning for a move.
Each path can involve timing, costs, tax considerations, remaining debt and potential legal consequences. Do not transfer ownership, abandon the property or sign an agreement without understanding what it could: and could not: change.
A careful review can prevent avoidable surprises
Before choosing a path, gather information in four categories.
- Case documents: Bring the complaint, summons, notices, court orders, hearing dates and any notice of sale.
- Mortgage information: Include recent statements, payment records, escrow information, modification applications and lender correspondence.
- Household finances: Prepare current income, monthly expenses, bank statements, tax information and information about other debts.
- Property details: Note the approximate value, mortgage balance, other liens, insurance status and whether anyone else has an ownership interest.
Then identify your priorities. You may want to keep the property, gain time, challenge an issue, resolve broader debt or leave the property in an organized way. The answer depends on your specific facts and long-term goals.
Common questions about Broward County foreclosure
Does Florida having the highest foreclosure rate mean my home is more likely to be foreclosed?
Not necessarily. The statistic measures foreclosure filings across the state. It does not predict the outcome of an individual case. Your payment history, case status, available defenses, income and lender actions all matter.
Can I ignore a foreclosure lawsuit while applying for a modification?
No. A modification request does not necessarily remove court deadlines. Track the loss-mitigation process and the court case separately unless you receive clear, reliable confirmation that a deadline has changed.
Can bankruptcy stop a scheduled foreclosure sale?
It may affect a sale in some circumstances, but the result depends on timing, the automatic stay, exceptions, prior cases and other facts. Confirm the exact sale date and court posture before relying on bankruptcy.
Can I keep my home if I am behind on payments?
Possibly, but no general answer can establish that a repayment plan is affordable or legally available. Income, expenses, arrears, property value, loan terms and the stage of foreclosure should be reviewed together.
What should I bring to a foreclosure consultation?
Bring every recent court and mortgage document, even if you do not understand it. Include income records, monthly expenses, information about other debts and any prior bankruptcy or mortgage-modification paperwork.
Start with facts, deadlines and priorities
Florida’s recent foreclosure data provides a reason to pay attention to notices and deadlines. It does not replace individualized legal analysis.
The Law Offices of Conwade D. Lewis, P.A. provides focused foreclosure-defense and bankruptcy consultations for Florida residents, including homeowners in Broward County. The attorney can review the documents, identify the current case posture and discuss possible paths based on your income, property, debts and goals.
You can request a consultation or call 954-714-1011. Bring your questions and the actual documents. The conversation can help clarify possible next steps, but submitting a request does not itself protect a deadline, stop a sale or create an attorney-client relationship.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Foreclosure law, bankruptcy law and court procedures can change, and your rights and options depend on your specific facts. Do not make major payments, transfers, property decisions or filing decisions based only on general website information. Seek case-specific advice before relying on a particular option.