Texas is the national leader in total foreclosure filings and has held that position throughout 2026, with Dallas and Tarrant counties posting some of the highest monthly volumes in the state. For DFW homeowners who have received a notice of default or are behind on mortgage payments, the data shows that lenders and courts are processing cases faster — and that the window for a voluntary sale is shorter than it was a year ago.
See the Texas Foreclosure Hub for a full breakdown of your options — from the automatic stay to pre-foreclosure cash sales.
What the Texas Foreclosure Data Shows for 2026
Statewide, Texas recorded 3,973 foreclosure filings in March 2026, 4,723 in April, 3,774 in May, and 4,091 in June. The April figure was the highest single-month total of 2026 through mid-year. Residential properties account for 86 to 90 percent of all filings; commercial properties represent 10 to 14 percent.
ATTOM data identified Texas as the national leader in total filings and in completed foreclosures — bank repossessions (REOs) where the property cycled through the full process and title returned to the lender. Nationally, foreclosure filings rose 21 percent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period a year earlier, and 28 percent compared with two years ago. Average foreclosure timelines fell to 563 days — the lowest since 2013 — meaning cases are resolving faster.
Dallas and Tarrant County: Where DFW Stands
Within the DFW region, Dallas County recorded 295 foreclosure filings in March 2026 and 347 in April — the third-highest county total in the state for April. Tarrant County, which includes Fort Worth and the mid-cities, recorded 237 filings in March.
These figures represent active foreclosure cases, not just delinquency notices. They include lis pendens filings, scheduled auction notices, and completed lender repossessions. At the current monthly pace, Dallas and Tarrant counties together are on track to see more than 6,000 foreclosure actions in 2026 — a level that reflects both the post-moratorium normalization and the affordability pressure that accumulated during the Federal Reserve rate cycle.
"Foreclosure activity in Texas will keep trending higher on an annual basis, even if monthly totals continue to swing up and down." — United States Real Estate Investor, citing ATTOM county-level data
Why Texas Leads the Nation in Foreclosure Filings
Texas's position at the top of the national foreclosure rankings reflects several structural factors:
Volume. Texas is the second-largest state by population and has a large base of mortgaged homeowners. Raw filing counts are naturally higher than smaller states.
Non-judicial process. Texas uses a non-judicial foreclosure process, which means cases move through the system faster than in states requiring court approval. Once a Notice of Default is issued, a Texas property can reach the courthouse-step auction in 45 to 75 days.
Affordability stress. DFW home prices rose sharply from 2020 through 2023. Buyers who purchased at peak prices with maximum leverage — particularly FHA borrowers — are the leading edge of the 2026 foreclosure pipeline.
Investor loan exposure. Commercial and investor-held properties account for 10 to 14 percent of Texas filings, with the Real Deal reporting that 11 of 48 distressed CRE loans flagged for auction in June were tied to Dallas County, and 10 to Tarrant County.
What This Means for DFW Homeowners Facing Foreclosure
Timelines are compressing. The national average foreclosure timeline has dropped to 563 days. In Texas, where the non-judicial process is already among the fastest in the country, homeowners who received a Notice of Default this spring are approaching auction eligibility now.
Completed foreclosures mean zero recovery. When a property completes the full cycle — goes to auction, draws no acceptable bid, and reverts to the bank as an REO — the homeowner receives nothing above the loan balance and typically receives nothing at all. The 45 percent annual jump in completed REOs nationally in Q1 2026 means more homeowners waited past the recovery window.
A cash sale before auction preserves equity and credit. Selling directly to a cash buyer before the foreclosure auction produces a defined payoff, stops the legal process, and avoids the seven-year credit damage of a completed foreclosure. The price will be below retail. The alternative — losing the property at auction — produces nothing and damages credit for years.
The Bottom Line
Texas leads the nation in foreclosure filings in 2026, with Dallas County recording 347 cases in April alone and Tarrant County on pace for similar volumes. Nationally, filings are up 21 percent year over year and timelines are the shortest since 2013. For DFW homeowners in the delinquency pipeline, the window for a voluntary sale that recovers equity and protects credit is open now, and it closes the moment the lender schedules a courthouse-step auction.
Related: U.S. Foreclosure Filings Up 20%+ in First Half of 2026 → · Active Foreclosure Inventory at 6-Year High → · Can I Sell My House During Bankruptcy? → · What Is a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure in Texas? →
Sources: ATTOM, 2026 Mid-Year Foreclosure Market Report; United States Real Estate Investor, "Texas Community Leads Nation in Foreclosures," 2026; The Real Deal Texas, "Dallas Leads Distress Surge as Texas CRE Foreclosures Top $1B Again in June," June 2026; HousingWire, "Foreclosures Climb 21% in First Half of 2026 as Timelines Shorten," July 2026.