Storms Drive Up Florida Foreclosures

By Douglas McIntyre  •  September 28, 2025
Blue Arauz Pexels

Foreclosure rates are increasing in the United States, and Lakeland, Florida, is at the center of the surge. This is Douglas McIntyre, editor-in-chief at Climate Crisis, reporting from New York City.

Foreclosure rates are picking up across the United States, according to ATTOM, a research firm that covers the real estate industry. ATTOM is among the most respected real estate data sources. It has many institutional clients

The firm says that nationwide, one in every 4,662 housing units had a foreclosure filing in August 2024. However, if you examine it on a more granular level, among the 224 metro areas with a population of at least 200,000, those with the highest foreclosure rates include Lakeland, Florida, with one in every 1,245 housing units.

Foreclosure Rate Compares Florida With U.S.

What’s the reason for that? Well, ATTOM doesn’t say exactly, but there’s a perfect storm going on in Florida. One factor is that home prices are falling, which means people can’t get as much for their homes as they paid in some cases. The other reason is that insurance prices are increasing due to hurricanes.

That’s really a perfect formula for people being in a situation where they can’t afford to live in their homes any longer.

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