Foreclosure Filings Hit 10-Year Low

Only 933,000 foreclosure filings were made in the U.S. last year, the lowest in 10 years and a 14 percent drop from 2015.

MarketWatch reports that filings in December were down 1 percent from November and 17 percent from the year before. These figures come from ATTOM Data Solutions and represent properties with publicly disclosed foreclosure filings, which includes default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions.

A decline in filings is inspiring news for the housing market, which is still reeling from the mid-2000s bubble that drastically impacted the economy — 55% of the loans in the process of foreclosure were originated between 2004 and 2008. Banks are clearing through those most distressed, Blomquist said.

While it’s tougher to buy a home now than it was during the housing boom, stricter lending requirements and government regulations should another onslaught of foreclosures of more recent mortgages.

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