[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"$fbwk2pqjjqsc7":3,"$f21775uw3yo9zg":124},[4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32,36,40,44,48,52,56,60,64,68,72,76,80,84,88,92,96,100,104,108,112,116,120],{"id":5,"name":6,"slug":7},1,"Uncategorized","uncategorized",{"id":9,"name":10,"slug":11},5,"For Buyers","buyers",{"id":13,"name":14,"slug":15},6,"For Sellers","sellers",{"id":17,"name":18,"slug":19},7,"Foreclosures","foreclosures",{"id":21,"name":22,"slug":23},8,"Infographics","infographics",{"id":25,"name":26,"slug":27},9,"Home Prices","home-prices",{"id":29,"name":30,"slug":31},11,"First-Time Buyers","first-time-buyers",{"id":33,"name":34,"slug":35},34,"Senior Market","senior-market",{"id":37,"name":38,"slug":39},35,"Mortgage Rates","mortgage-rates",{"id":41,"name":42,"slug":43},38,"Move-Up","move-up",{"id":45,"name":46,"slug":47},41,"For Sale by Owner","for-sale-by-owner",{"id":49,"name":50,"slug":51},42,"Featured","featured",{"id":53,"name":54,"slug":55},45,"New Construction","new-construction",{"id":57,"name":58,"slug":59},52,"Luxury \u002F Vacation","luxury--vacation",{"id":61,"name":62,"slug":63},53,"Rent vs. Buy","rent-vs-buy",{"id":65,"name":66,"slug":67},80,"Time-sensitive","time-sensitive",{"id":69,"name":70,"slug":71},81,"Outdated","outdated",{"id":73,"name":74,"slug":75},147,"Internal","internal",{"id":77,"name":78,"slug":79},148,"Do Not Autopost","do-not-autopost",{"id":81,"name":82,"slug":83},320,"Inventory","inventory",{"id":85,"name":86,"slug":87},321,"Agent Value","agent-value",{"id":89,"name":90,"slug":91},322,"Affordability","affordability",{"id":93,"name":94,"slug":95},323,"Buying Tips","buying-tips",{"id":97,"name":98,"slug":99},324,"Downsize","downsize",{"id":101,"name":102,"slug":103},325,"Economy","economy",{"id":105,"name":106,"slug":107},326,"Equity","equity",{"id":109,"name":110,"slug":111},327,"Forecasts","forecasts",{"id":113,"name":114,"slug":115},328,"Selling Tips","selling-tips",{"id":117,"name":118,"slug":119},339,"Expired\u002FWithdrawn\u002FCanceled","expiredwithdrawncanceled",{"id":121,"name":122,"slug":123},340,"Price It Right\u002FOverpricing","price-it-rightoverpricing",{"items":125,"totalCount":184,"hasMore":138},[126,148,167],{"id":127,"slug":128,"title":129,"description":130,"excerpt":131,"contentType":132,"featuredImage":133,"bannerImage":134,"body":135,"agentsBottomLine":136,"bodyImage":137,"isInfographic":138,"categories":139,"isVideo":138,"videoThumbnail":131,"videoSource":131,"publishedAt":146,"updatedAt":147},107879,"newly-built-home-prices-hit-a-5-year-low","Newly Built Home Prices Hit a 5-Year Low","\u003Cp>If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your budget, you should know the math just got a little friendlier.\u003C\u002Fp>","","blog","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260514\u002FHeader-Image-GettyImages-1765760671-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260527\u002FSTM-Banner-GettyImages-1765760671-original.jpg","\u003Cp>If you’ve always assumed a newly built home is just not in your \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F04\u002F09\u002Fwhen-buying-a-home-feels-out-of-reach-some-families-do-this-instead\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">budget\u003C\u002Fa>, you should know the math just got a little friendlier.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The median sale price of a newly built home is now at its lowest level since 2021, according to the \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.census.gov\u002Fconstruction\u002Fnrs\u002Fdata\u002Fseries.html\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">latest data\u003C\u002Fa> from the \u003Cem>Census\u003C\u002Fem>. And on top of that, builders are still rolling out incentives to bring buyers through the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Here's what's happening, and what it means if you're shopping right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Prices on Newly Built Homes Have Come Down\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>After a steep climb during the pandemic years, prices have eased a bit. The median sale price of \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F02\u002F16\u002Fmove-up-buyers-are-choosing-new-construction\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">newly built homes\u003C\u002Fa> is sitting at about $390,000. \u003Cstrong>That’s the lowest it's been in nearly five years\u003C\u002Fstrong> \u003Cem>(see graph below):\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260514\u002F20260521-Newy-Built-original.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260514\u002F20260521-Newy-Built-original.png\" alt=\"a graph of a home prices\">\u003C\u002Fa>While local markets vary, the national trend is moving in your favor, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. According to \u003Cem>Zonda\u003C\u002Fem>, prices in the entry-level price range have \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fzondahome.com\u002Fnew-home-market-update\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">dropped\u003C\u002Fa> roughly 2.7% over the past 12 months – more than any other price tier.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>That doesn't mean every home in every market is suddenly affordable. But it does mean that, broadly, you’ll see the best prices on \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F02\u002F09\u002Fwhy-townhomes-are-popular-with-todays-first-time-buyers\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">new builds\u003C\u002Fa> since 2021, if you’re buying now.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Why This Isn’t a Repeat of 2008\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>And just in case you’re thinking it, lower prices don't mean the new home market is in trouble. Builders today are being intentional about how much inventory they have, so it doesn't pile up the way it did in \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2025\u002F11\u002F12\u002Fare-builders-overbuilding-again-lets-look-at-the-facts\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">2008\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>If you look back up at the graph, you’ll see that even after the recent improvement in new home prices, they’re still higher than pre-pandemic norms. So, this isn’t a crash. It’s a builder strategy to keep inventory moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Homebuilders Are Still Sweetening the Deal\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>Lower sticker prices aren't the only break buyers are getting. According to the \u003Cem>National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)\u003C\u002Fem>, \u003Cstrong>60% of builders are currently offering some form of \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nahb.org\u002Fnews-and-economics\u002Fhousing-economics\u002Findices\u002Fhousing-market-index\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cstrong>incentive\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong> to attract buyers\u003C\u002Fstrong>. Those typically include:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Help with closing costs:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Some builders are covering thousands of dollars in fees to reduce the upfront cost of buying.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Extra upgrades:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Think premium finishes, appliance packages, and designer features, often added at no extra cost.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Mortgage rate buydowns:\u003C\u002Fstrong> When the builder pays to lower your mortgage rate, which reduces your monthly payment.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Price cuts:\u003C\u002Fstrong> Over one in three builders (36%) are \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.nahb.org\u002Fnews-and-economics\u002Fhousing-economics\u002Findices\u002Fhousing-market-index​\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">cutting prices\u003C\u002Fa> right now, averaging about 5% off list price \u003Cem>(see graph below):\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260514\u002F20260521-Many-Builders-original.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260514\u002F20260521-Many-Builders-original.png\" alt=\"a blue and grey pie chart\">\u003C\u002Fa>That last point catches a lot of buyers off guard – most assume that builders won’t budge on price.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But builders need to move what they've built. That's a different mindset than a homeowner deciding whether to budge on price. So, you may find they’re more open to adjusting the price than you’d think. As Joel Berner, Senior Economist at \u003Cem>Realtor.com\u003C\u002Fem>, puts it:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cblockquote>\". . . \u003Cem>many existing-home sellers resort to taking down their listing instead of taking less than their desired price, but builders are more motivated to sell their inventory than owner-occupants\u003C\u002Fem> . . .\"\u003C\u002Fblockquote>\u003Cp>And if you use the version of the graph that shows 2008 prices, you can even reference that in this explainer.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>And if here, should I change the last sentence of the lede?\u003C\u002Fp>","\u003Cp>Builder incentives and lower new home prices are working to your advantage in a way they haven't in years. Want to see what's available in your area and what kind of deal a builder may be willing to make? Let's connect.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260514\u002F20260521-Newy-Built-original.png",false,[140,141,142,143,144,145],{"id":9,"name":10,"slug":11},{"id":29,"name":30,"slug":31},{"id":49,"name":50,"slug":51},{"id":53,"name":54,"slug":55},{"id":89,"name":90,"slug":91},{"id":93,"name":94,"slug":95},"2026-05-21T10:30:00Z","2026-05-14T06:04:15Z",{"id":149,"slug":150,"title":151,"description":152,"excerpt":131,"contentType":132,"featuredImage":153,"bannerImage":154,"body":155,"agentsBottomLine":156,"bodyImage":157,"isInfographic":138,"categories":158,"isVideo":138,"videoThumbnail":131,"videoSource":131,"publishedAt":165,"updatedAt":166},107868,"are-home-prices-going-to-fall","Are Home Prices Going To Fall?","\u003Cp>It’s one of the biggest hold ups some buyers have right now: “\u003Cem>What if I buy, and home prices go down?”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260513\u002FHeader-Image-20230123-Blog-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260527\u002FSTM-Banner-20230123-Blog-original.jpg","\u003Cp>It’s one of the biggest hold ups some buyers have right now: “\u003Cem>What if I buy, and home prices go down?”\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>With everything in the news, that concern makes some sense. No one wants to make a big financial decision at the \u003Cem>wrong \u003C\u002Fem>time. But here’s what’s important to know. You don’t want to get hung up on the few places seeing slight declines right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>When you zoom out and look at the full picture, \u003Cstrong>home prices usually rise over time.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>What the Data Really Shows\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>Take a look at the visual below. It uses \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.spglobal.com\u002Fspdji\u002Fen\u002Findex-family\u002Findicators\u002Fsp-cotality-case-shiller\u002Fsp-cotality-case-shiller-composite\u002F#news-research\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">data\u003C\u002Fa> from\u003Cem> Case-Shiller \u003C\u002Fem>and \u003Cem>Bilello \u003C\u002Fem>to show how \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F04\u002F01\u002Fdont-let-home-prices-headlines-fool-you\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">home prices\u003C\u002Fa> have changed year by year going all the way back to the 1950s.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Here’s the key takeaway.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Outside of the housing crash, home prices have either held steady or increased in just about every year for decades\u003C\u002Fstrong> (\u003Cem>see visual below\u003C\u002Fem>)\u003Cstrong>\u003Cem>:\u003C\u002Fem>\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260513\u002F20260518-Home-Prices-original.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260513\u002F20260518-Home-Prices-original.png\" alt=\"a chart of percentages and numbers\">\u003C\u002Fa>That’s a remarkably consistent track record. And it shows something a lot of headlines miss.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>While short-term shifts can happen, it’s the long-term gains that really matter.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Why Prices Tend To Rise Over Time\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>There are a few core reasons prices usually go up each year:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>There are always people who need to move.\u003C\u002Fstrong> People need a place to live, and that demand will never fully go away. It may ebb and flow, but someone will always have to move as big changes happen in their life. So, homes \u003Cem>stay \u003C\u002Fem>in demand.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>There still aren't enough homes for sale.\u003C\u002Fstrong> While the number of homes for sale has grown, nationally there’s still an undersupply based on how many people want a home. That keeps upward pressure on prices.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>\u003Cstrong>Inflation has an impact.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Over time, the cost of goods (including homes) naturally increases. That pushes home values higher.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>What That Means for You as a Buyer\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>It’s easy to get caught up in what might happen with home prices next month or next year, especially if you’re a \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F04\u002F20\u002Fthe-10-best-markets-for-first-time-buyers-this-spring\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">first-time buyer\u003C\u002Fa> and you’re feeling a little anxious about making such a big financial commitment. But the big picture is clear. Prices usually rise.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>That doesn’t mean prices will go up \u003Cem>every \u003C\u002Fem>single year in every market. Real estate is local, and there can be short-term ups and downs. We’re seeing that in \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F04\u002F23\u002F3-things-that-are-not-going-to-happen-in-todays-housing-market\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">some places\u003C\u002Fa> right now. You can even see it in the few annual dips in the visual above.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But historically, \u003Cstrong>the declines have been temporary.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>That’s why it’s generally recommended to buy a home only if you plan to stay for a while – typically \u003Cstrong>at least five years\u003C\u002Fstrong>. That’s normally enough time to see your house grow in value. And, it’s enough so you can ride out any short-term changes in the market.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Because when you can do that, something powerful happens. Those rising home values grow your \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F04\u002F16\u002Frent-or-buy-the-real-tradeoff-most-people-dont-talk-about\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">net worth\u003C\u002Fa>, and by extension, help you build wealth.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The right decision isn’t about timing the market perfectly. It’s about making a move that works for your life and staying in it long enough to benefit from the bigger trend.\u003C\u002Fp>","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Home prices have a long track record of going up over time. And that’s why buying a home is generally considered a safe long-term investment.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>That certainly doesn’t mean you have to buy now. You should only move when it makes sense, and you plan to live there for a while.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But if you’re interested, let this reassure you. If you want to talk through what home prices are doing in our market, your goals, or your timelines, let’s have a quick conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260513\u002F20260518-Home-Prices-original.png",[159,160,161,162,163,164],{"id":9,"name":10,"slug":11},{"id":25,"name":26,"slug":27},{"id":29,"name":30,"slug":31},{"id":49,"name":50,"slug":51},{"id":61,"name":62,"slug":63},{"id":105,"name":106,"slug":107},"2026-05-18T10:30:00Z","2026-05-18T10:30:12Z",{"id":168,"slug":169,"title":170,"description":171,"excerpt":131,"contentType":132,"featuredImage":172,"bannerImage":173,"body":174,"agentsBottomLine":175,"bodyImage":176,"isInfographic":138,"categories":177,"isVideo":138,"videoThumbnail":131,"videoSource":131,"publishedAt":182,"updatedAt":183},107757,"what-the-foreclosure-headlines-arent-telling-you","What the Foreclosure Headlines Aren’t Telling You","\u003Cp>You've probably seen the headlines saying, \"foreclosures are on the rise,” and maybe your mind jumped straight to 2008.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260512\u002FHeader-Image-20221221-Blog-original.png","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260527\u002FSTM-Banner-20221221-Blog-original.jpg","\u003Cp>You've probably seen the headlines saying, \"\u003Cem>foreclosures are on the rise\u003C\u002Fem>,” and maybe your mind jumped straight to 2008. That’s understandable. A lot of people remember that \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F04\u002F23\u002F3-things-that-are-not-going-to-happen-in-todays-housing-market\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">crash\u003C\u002Fa> and all the foreclosures that happened during that window, and they’re hoping something like that never happens again. \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>But this isn’t a repeat of what happened back then. Here’s the context to prove it.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Foreclosures Are Rising, But They’re Still Historically Low\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>Yes, foreclosure filings are up \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.attomdata.com\u002Fnews\u002Fmarket-trends\u002Fforeclosures\u002Fq1-and-march-2026-foreclosure-market-report\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">26%\u003C\u002Fa> from a year ago, according to \u003Cem>ATTOM\u003C\u002Fem>. And they’ve been rising for 5 straight quarters. That's a real trend worth paying attention to. \u003Cstrong>But the full picture isn’t scary like the headlines suggest.\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>The reality is the increase we’re seeing is a sign of the market normalizing.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Here's an important thing to know about this chart. The extremely low numbers you see in 2020 and 2021 don't represent what's \"\u003Cem>normal\u003C\u002Fem>.\" That's when the government put a moratorium on foreclosures to help homeowners get through the pandemic. Those years were an exception, not the baseline.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Instead, compare where we are today to 2017, 2018, and 2019 – the last years the market was running normally. Today's numbers are \u003Cstrong>still lower\u003C\u002Fstrong>. So, we're not even back to what's typical, yet. That means this can’t be a crash. (\u003Cem>see graph below\u003C\u002Fem>):\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260512\u002F20260513-Foreclosures-original.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260512\u002F20260513-Foreclosures-original.png\" alt=\"a graph of a crash level\">\u003C\u002Fa>While today's numbers are getting closer to pre-pandemic levels, they're still below historical norms. And just look at what was happening around 2008. Even with the recent increase, we're nowhere near those levels. This is a market returning to normal, not heading toward a crisis.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>Why Today’s Equity Picture Changes Everything\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>Most of those filings won't even end in a completed foreclosure. That's because today's homeowners have something most people in 2008 simply didn't have. And that’s \u003Ca href=\"\u002F2026\u002F02\u002F12\u002Ffour-ways-your-home-equity-can-work-for-you\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">equity\u003C\u002Fa>.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>The average homeowner today is sitting on roughly \u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.cotality.com\u002Fpress-releases\u002Fhome-equity-decreases-nationally-to-end-2025\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cstrong>$295,000\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fa>\u003Cstrong> in home equity right now, according to \u003Cem>Cotality\u003C\u002Fem>.\u003C\u002Fstrong> Back in 2008, many people owed more than their homes were worth. Selling wasn't an option. And foreclosure was often the only door available.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Today, that's not the case. If you have enough equity to cover what you owe and the cost of selling, you could sell your home, pay off your debt, protect your credit, and potentially walk away with money in your pocket.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>That's a completely different situation than what homeowners faced during the last crash, and it's a big reason we're unlikely to see foreclosures spiral the way they did back then.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Check out the graph below. It shows foreclosure \u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.attomdata.com\u002Fnews\u002Fmarket-trends\u002Fforeclosures\u002Fq1-and-march-2026-foreclosure-market-report\u002F\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">data\u003C\u002Fa> from \u003Cem>ATTOM\u003C\u002Fem> going back to 2005. Here's how to read it:\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cul>\u003Cli>The yellow line tracks all foreclosure filings.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>The orange line tracks foreclosure starts, meaning the process has officially begun.\u003C\u002Fli>\u003Cli>And the red line at the bottom tracks completed foreclosures (the ones where a homeowner actually lost their home).\u003C\u002Fli>\u003C\u002Ful>\u003Cp>\u003Ca href=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260512\u002F20260513-Not-All-original.png\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">\u003Cimg src=\"https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260512\u002F20260513-Not-All-original.png\" alt=\"a graph of a graph showing the fall of foreclosure\">\u003C\u002Fa>See how the red line stays well below the other two? That gap tells the real story. A lot of homeowners who enter the foreclosure process never end up losing their home because they find another way forward first.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Today’s equity is a big reason for that. So, even the filings we are seeing now won’t all end in foreclosure.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Ch4>\u003Cstrong>If You’re Struggling, You Have More Options Than You Think\u003C\u002Fstrong>\u003C\u002Fh4>\u003Cp>Maybe you're behind on payments. Maybe you're stressed about what comes next. That's an incredibly hard place to be, but it's important to know that missing a payment or two doesn't automatically mean you'll lose your home.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Banks would much rather work with you than foreclose. It's a complicated, costly process for them, too. They're often willing to set up a repayment plan, offer forbearance (a temporary pause or reduction in your payments), or modify your loan to make things more manageable long-term.\u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>Just know the sooner you reach out to your lender, the more options you'll have. In some states (ones that don't require the foreclosure process to go through a court) things can move faster than people expect. Getting ahead of it early gives you and your lender the most room to find a solution. \u003C\u002Fp>\u003Cp>And if selling makes more sense for your situation, a real estate agent can help you understand what your home is worth and whether that's a path worth exploring.\u003C\u002Fp>","\u003Cp>\u003Cstrong>Foreclosure filings may be rising, but they're still low. \u003C\u002Fstrong>And the equity most homeowners are sitting on today is a key reason this looks nothing like 2008.\u003C\u002Fp>","https:\u002F\u002Ffiles.keepingcurrentmatters.com\u002FKeepingCurrentMatters\u002Fcontent\u002Fimages\u002F20260512\u002F20260513-Foreclosures-original.png",[178,179,180,181],{"id":13,"name":14,"slug":15},{"id":17,"name":18,"slug":19},{"id":49,"name":50,"slug":51},{"id":105,"name":106,"slug":107},"2026-05-13T10:30:00Z","2026-05-13T10:30:07Z",3]