Page 6 – Safeguard Properties

Livingston County Land Bank Launches $2.5M Program to Rehab Vacant Properties

Posted on April 9, 2026April 9, 2026 by Safeguard

One Community Update
April 1, 2026

The Livingston County Land Bank Corporation and Livingston County are launching the Vacant Rental Program, a New York State–funded grant initiative that puts up to $2.5 million directly toward the rehabilitation of vacant rental properties across the county.

The partnership will help bring vacant properties back into productive use as affordable housing across Livingston County, officials said in a news release.

“The goal is to restore unutilized properties to a habitable condition, improve housing stock and increase availability of options for housing in Livingston County,” Megan Crowe, executive director of the Livingston County Land Bank Corp., said in an email to The Livingston County News.

The program targets units that are sitting vacant and are uninhabitable or unmarketable without investment.

The Vacant Rental Program, funded by the New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s New York Vacant Rental Program, is designed to increase New York State’s supply of affordable housing by supporting the rehabilitation of vacant rental units and spaces. Eligible landlords can receive substantial grant funding to cover the cost of rehabilitating vacant units — bringing them up to code, back into service, and once again generating rental income. For property owners sitting on vacant units that need work, this is an opportunity to transform an underutilized property into a productive asset. Additionally, this program provides an opportunity for Livingston County residents as a substantial number of affordable housing units will become available for rent across the county, Crowe said.

The Vacant Rental Program provides grants of up to $50,000 or $75,000 per unit to rehabilitate vacant rental properties. In exchange, owners commit to renting assisted units to income-eligible tenants for 10 years. For properties receiving a $50,000 grant, the tenant’s total household income may not exceed 80% of area median income, or AMI. For a grant of $75,000, the total household income may not exceed 60% of AMI. The AMI total is based on household size and updated annually by the U.S. Department of housing and Urban Development.

“The properties must be vacant as not to displace any current residents,” said Crowe. “The program applies exclusively to units that are vacant at the time of application. An occupied unit is not eligible, and no existing tenant would be displaced or face a rent increase as a result of this program.”

The program is monitored to ensure compliance, said Crowe.

The Vacant Rental Program targets small property owners and prioritizes projects that create long-term, income-qualified rental opportunities in underserved communities.

Crowe said the Land Bank encourages “eligible owners throughout Livingston County to apply and take advantage of this state investment in our local housing stock.”

Eligible properties must be in Livingston County. Properties may include:

One to five-unit vacant rental properties in multifamily or mixed-use buildings.
Vacant single-family rental homes.
Unused or underutilized residential or commercial space suitable for conversion into rental housing.

The Livingston County Land Bank Corp. was one of 11 not-for-profits and municipalities selected for VRP awards in this latest round of funding.

To date, the Vacant Rental Program has provided more than $56 million to transform more than 830 vacant and distressed units across New York into renovated affordable homes.

“The New York Vacant Rental Program is one of many tools being used under Governor Kathy Hochul’s leadership to tackle the housing crisis and increase the stock of affordable housing,” New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said in a news release.

Livingston County completed a Housing Needs Assessment and Market Analysis in 2019 and more recently has been working on a Community and Partner Readiness for Diverse Housing Development effort. Officials have met with 23 of the county’s 26 municipalities to discuss ongoing housing needs.

“From these studies, top concerns are limited senior and transitional housing, shortage of starter homes and workforce rental housing, and aging and deteriorating housing stock,” Crowe said.

The Vacant Rental Program “could make a significant different in the existing housing and improve conditions in Livingston County,” Crowe said.

Funds for the program are awarded on a rolling basis, so there is no deadline to wait for. The Livingston County Land Bank Corp. reviews applications monthly and funding is available now.

Property owners whose units are accepted into the program will work with the Land Bank to assess rehabilitation work, select from a pool of pre-qualified local contractors, and see the project through to completion. The Land Bank manages the process, so owners aren’t navigating it alone.

Properties that are currently vacant and in need of rehabilitation are a strong fit for the program. The Land Bank gives added consideration to locally owned properties and units located in the county’s villages and hamlets, and to applicants with a small portfolio.

The Livingston County Land Bank Corp. is also seeking general contractors to join the program’s pre-qualified contractor pool. Contractors who qualify will be positioned to bid on a steady pipeline of rehabilitation projects across the county as the program ramps up. Interested contractors are encouraged to submit a response to the Land Bank. For more information on contractor pre-qualification, visit the Land Bank’s website at https://tinyurl.com/37xm4wr2 or contact the LCLBC directly at (585) 243-7550.

The LCLBC will host a free public informational session for property owners and interested contractors to learn more about the program, ask questions, and receive guidance on the application process.

Attendance at an informational session is required in order to apply to the VRP program. The first two sessions are scheduled for 6 p.m. April 9 and 13 at in the Building One Livingston County Conference Center, 1 Murray Hill Drive, on Livingston County’s Murray Hill Campus in Mount Morris.

The Livingston County Land Bank Corp. will continue to hold informational sessions twice a month, providing interested property owners additional opportunities to attend. Attendance is free and open to the public.

Property owners can access the application and learn more about program eligibility, the award process, and affordability requirements by visiting the Livingston County Land Bank’s website at https://tinyurl.com/vt9putr7. Questions may also be directed to Nate Cole, principal community development specialist, at natecole@livingstoncountyny.gov.

For full report, please click the source link above.

Muskegon Flips Blighted Homes for Low-Income Housing

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Safeguard

One Community Update
April 2, 2026

Source: mlive.com

The city of Muskegon is using federal funds to purchase blighted homes, completely renovate them and sell to low-income families.

The work is led by the city’s Community and Neighborhood Services department, which uses federal HOME Program funds to flip one to two homes per year.

The homes are then sold at a subsidized price to an income-eligible family.

Rhonda Kleyn, grants program coordinator, said this allows for new development that doesn’t “lead to gentrification.”

“A lot of times people worry about gentrification because if you’re doing too many new houses it’s going to price the people who already live here out,” Kleyn said. “With this type of program, with the subsidies, and selling it to an income-eligible family, it does not have that impact on the community, which is good.

The program receives between $200,000 and $250,000 per year from the federal grant program, and funds from the sales of the homes go back into the Muskegon program’s budget

The city buys foreclosed, abandoned properties through the Muskegon County Land Bank.

“These are blighted properties that we’re buying,” Kleyn said. “They’re properties that it’s not very likely that anyone is going to purchase.”

The home renovation program is just one of many ways the city is finding ways to create more housing.

A home at 1698 Wood Street just went on the market after undergoing major renovations funded by the city. An invite-only open house was held Tuesday, March 31, for community stakeholders, officials and city staff.

The single-family house that was previously split into two units now is 2,014 square feet and has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a bonus living area and an unfinished basement.

There is a garage accessed by an alley behind the home and small backyard.

The rehabilitation included major upgrades designed to remove health and safety hazards and reduce the need for significant repairs for at least the next 20 years, according to city records.

The home was built in 1920 and required full lead and asbestos abatement.

Improvements also included:

Brand new plumbing and electrical systems
Fully inspected and repaired HVAC system
Removal of all lead and asbestos hazards from the home and garage
New siding, doors, windows, soffit and fascia
Brand new kitchen, bathrooms and associated appliances
ADA-accessible first-floor bathroom
Removal of old windows on the front porch to create an inviting outdoor setting
Expanded storage and closet space
Raised, insulated second-floor ceiling to create code-compliant living space

The house may be listed for its market price of $244,000, according to Zillow, but it will sell for much less than that to an income-eligible buyer, Kleyn said.

The home will be affordable for a family earning up to 80% of area median income, approximately $52,480 annually for a two-person household, according to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

“It allows wealth building for someone who has never owned a home before, because when they buy the home they’re going to have immediate equity,” Kleyn said. “It helps somebody who maybe has wanted to buy a house but they can’t get a house that fits their needs at their income level.”

The city can also add down payment and closing cost assistance. Each sale and range of assistance is dependent on the buyer’s situation.

An interested buyer should have a realtor make an offer on the home where it is listed, as well as complete the application process through the CNS

department to verify income eligibility.

“It’s a pretty quick process,” Kleyn said, adding that the department aims to respond to applicants with an approval or denial within 48 hours.

The city has been working on creating more housing for several years.

The Muskegon Scattered Site Infill Housing Brownfield Plan uses tax increment financing to develop vacant lots into single-family homes. It has facilitated the construction of 1,770 units since it began in 2018.

In 2024, the city passed several changes to the zoning law to allow for duplexes, triplexes and accessory dwelling units in all residential neighborhoods.

It also approved the changing of some design requirements to more easily allow the conversion of single-family houses into duplexes and triplexes.

The city reduced lot sizes, making the minimum square footage of a lot 3,000 square feet in residential zones and the minimum lot width 30 feet in every residential zone.

That allowed, in some cases, for two homes to be built on a lot where previously only one could be built, or three duplexes where previously only one duplex could be built.

The city was nationally recognized for its efforts when it was a top three finalist for the 2025 Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability.

In September 2025, the city launched the ARP Program to utilize $1 million in HOME American Rescue Plan federal funds to specifically develop duplex housing units.

City leaders are now considering splitting around 22 city-owned lots across the city and constructing 40 to 50 additional units for sale.

In the current housing economy, city officials found that private builders struggle to turn a profit in building a house that will sell at or below $200,000, which is a need in Muskegon.

For full report, please click the source link above.

City of Wichita Likely to Dissolve Land Bank Program

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Safeguard

One Community Update
April 6, 2026

Source: msn.com

A program to encourage affordable housing in Wichita may be dissolved.

The Wichita City Council will consider at Tuesday’s meeting whether it wants to dissolve its Land Bank program.

The program, established in 2021, was intended to buy and sell properties to encourage affordable housing in the city’s core, but the city was unable to acquire land for the program, mainly through Sedgwick County tax foreclosure sales and donations.

“The inability to acquire properties through the tax foreclosure process, unlike other land banks in Kansas, is a contributing factor to the Wichita Land Bank’s struggle, but not the only factor,” the city said in a statement to the Eagle. “Direct outreach to owners of vacant and dilapidated properties or properties subject to tax foreclosure were not successful in encouraging donation to the Land Bank.”

Dissolving the Land Bank has been part of conversations at City Hall in recent years after it blamed bureaucracy and funding issues for its slow start.

The program acquired only two properties in its five-year history, which were sold through a request for proposal process to Wichita Habitat for Humanity. Habitat then built two single-family homes on those properties, located near Ninth and Ash.

The city said it currently doesn’t have any other properties in the program.

“With no remaining inventory, no active pipeline of properties, and no assets under management, the Land Bank is not currently positioned to carry out its intended functions,” a city agenda report said.

Federal funding also caused issues for the program, according to the city.

The only funding made available for the city to acquire properties were Community Development Block Grants, which have strict federal requirements.

“Land Banking is not directly an eligible CDBG activity,” the city said in a statement to the Eagle. “Development of affordable housing, public facilities, and infrastructure that serve low income people are CDBG eligible activities.”

The agenda report noted that it’s possible the city could revive the program if it finds another avenue to acquire properties.

For full report, please click the source link above.

Akron Offering Nearly 400 City-Owned Lots for Sale

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Safeguard

One Community Update
April 7, 2026

Source: Cleveland.com

If you have been thinking about purchasing property in Akron or expanding your existing property, you’re in luck. The Akron Planning Commission last month renewed three programs to help facilitate the sale of nearly 400 city-owned lots to builders, individuals and homeowners.

The programs – Mow to Own, Welcome Home Akron and the Summit Lake Lot Sale – encourage the purchase of vacant, city-owned properties at an affordable price. The programs also benefit the city by reducing its burden of maintaining the vacant lots.

Mow to Own

The Mow to Own program allows owners of adjacent properties to purchase city-owned vacant lots to expand their existing property. Available lots are not large enough to build a home on, and building structures or parking lots on them is not allowed.

Priority is given to owner-occupants who live directly next to the lot. If the adjacent property owner is not interested or does not qualify, the opportunity will be extended to the property owner located behind the lot. The program is open to individuals and nonprofit organizations.

Participants are responsible for maintaining the property, including mowing and trimming every two weeks. While applicants are encouraged to enhance and beautify the lot, building structures on the lot, parking vehicles on the lot or using it for storage isn’t allowed. The property deed will include restrictions prohibiting resale within two years of closing without prior written approval from the city.

Welcome Home Akron

The Welcome Home Akron program offers vacant, city-owned lots for sale to housing developers, builders and individuals interested in constructing new single-family, owner-occupied homes. Available properties are priced at $0.50 per square foot plus recording fees and are sold as-is.

The program, which is managed by the Summit County Land Bank, also offers a 15-year tax abatement on newly constructed homes.

The goal of the program is to increase new home construction while making use of vacant city land, according to the Land Bank website.

Summit Lake Lot Sale

The Summit Lake Lot Sale program has the same requirements as the Welcome Home Akron program, except available lots are available in the city’s Summit Lake neighborhood.

Developers, builders and individuals interested in learning more about available properties through the three programs can contact the Office of Integrated Development at 330-375-2696.

For full report, please click the source link above.

OCC Reports Mortgage Performance for Fourth Quarter of 2025

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 30, 2026

Source: Office of the Comptroller of the Currency

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) reported on the performance of first-lien mortgages in the federal banking system during the fourth quarter of 2025.

The OCC Mortgage Metrics Report, Fourth Quarter 2025 showed that 97.5 percent of mortgages included in the report were current and performing at the end of the quarter, a slight increase from 97.4 percent in 2024.

The percentage of seriously delinquent mortgages – mortgages that are 60 or more days past due and all mortgages held by bankrupt borrowers whose payments are 30 or more days past due – remained unchanged from the fourth quarter of 2024.

Servicers initiated 7,519 new foreclosures in the fourth quarter of 2025 showing a decrease from the previous quarter and an increase from a year earlier.

Servicers completed 5,888 modifications during the fourth quarter of 2025, a 39 percent decrease from the previous quarter’s 8,190 modifications. The data in this report reflects a decline in mortgage modifications for the fourth quarter of 2025 attributed to changes in secondary market investor loss mitigation programs. Of these 5,888 modifications, 5,565, or 94.5 percent, were “combination modifications” — modifications that included multiple actions affecting the affordability and sustainability of the loan, such as an interest rate reduction and a term extension.

The first-lien mortgages included in the OCC’s quarterly report comprise approximately 19.2 percent of all residential mortgage debt outstanding in the United States or approximately 10.3 million loans totaling $2.6 trillion in principal balances.

This report provides information on mortgage performance through December 31, 2025.

For full report, please click the source link above.

Fannie and Freddie: Single Family Delinquency Rate Increased in February

Posted on March 30, 2026 by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 30, 2026

Source: CalculatedRisk Newsletter

In general, single family delinquency rates are low but increasing slowly.

Freddie Mac reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in February was 0.61%, up from 0.60% January. Freddie’s rate is unchanged year-over-year from 0.61% in February 2025. This is close to the pre-pandemic level of 0.60%.

Freddie’s serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 4.20% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.17% in August 2020 during the pandemic.

Fannie Mae reported that the Single-Family serious delinquency rate in February was 0.60%, up from 0.59% in January. The serious delinquency rate is up year-over-year from 0.57% in February 2025, however, this rate is below the pre-pandemic lows of 0.65%.

The Fannie Mae serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 5.59% following the housing bubble and peaked at 3.32% in August 2020 during the pandemic.

These are mortgage loans that are “three monthly payments or more past due or in foreclosure”. Mortgages in forbearance are being counted as delinquent in this monthly report but are not reported to the credit bureaus.

For Fannie, by vintage, for loans made in 2004 or earlier (1% of portfolio), 1.36% are seriously delinquent (down from 1.44% the previous month).

For loans made in 2005 through 2008 (1% of portfolio), 2.07% are seriously delinquent (unchanged from 2.07%).

For recent loans, originated in 2009 through 2025 (98% of portfolio), 0.55% are seriously delinquent (up from 0.54%). So, Fannie is still working through a handful of poor performing loans from the bubble years.

For full report, please click the source link above.

ICE First Look at Mortgage Performance: Serious Delinquencies Increase as Cure Rates Slow

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 25, 2026

Source: ICE Mortgage Technology

FHA loans drive spike in serious delinquencies and active foreclosures following loss mitigation guideline changes

Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., one of the world’s leading providers of financial market technology and data powering global capital markets, today released the February 2026 ICE First Look at mortgage delinquency, foreclosure and prepayment trends.

“February saw a clear rebound in prepayment activity, with speeds rising 14% month over month and 80% year over year as the wave of refinances triggered by lower rates in January reached closing,” said Andy Walden, Head of Mortgage and Housing Market Research at ICE. “Delinquencies also edged higher, driven by seasonal increases in early-stage delinquencies and a notable rise in seriously past-due loans, though overall delinquency rates remain below pre-pandemic levels. These dynamics bear watching in the coming months, as default activity continues to trend off recent record lows.”

Key takeaways from this month’s findings include:

Prepayments rebounded: The single-month mortality (SMM) rate, a measure of prepayment speed, increased by 10 basis points (bps) in February to 0.82% and was up 80% from the same time last year. The uptick follows a refinance wave driven by January rate drops.

Delinquencies edged up in February: The national delinquency rate rose by 7 bps in February to 3.72%, driven by a 4% seasonal rise in early (30-day) delinquencies and a 3% rise in seriously delinquent (90-plus day) loans. The rate is up 20 bps from the same time last year but remains 12 bps below its February 2020 pre-pandemic benchmark.

Combined serious delinquency and foreclosure volumes increased: At the end of January, 878,000 loans were in a state of severe delinquency or foreclosure. That figure is up 175,000 (25%) over the past four months, the highest since June 2022, and the highest since June 2018 when excluding the immediate effect of the pandemic. FHA loans account for roughly 80% of the recent increase.

Cure rates have slowed: The rise in seriously delinquent loans is driven primarily by a decline in cure activity rather than a spike in new defaults. While the number of new loans that have become 90-plus days delinquent over the past four months has remained roughly flat on an annual basis, cure rates among 90-plus day delinquent mortgages are down by more than 40%.

Foreclosure activity is rising off recent record lows: February saw 35,000 foreclosure starts, down 16% from January but up 7% year over year. Foreclosure sales declined 13% in the month but rose 25% year over year. The share of loans in active foreclosure remains 6 bps below pre-pandemic levels, though it rose by 4% in February and is up 25% from a year ago.

For full report, please click the source link above.

U.S. Foreclosure Rates by State – February 2026

Posted on March 27, 2026 by Safeguard

Industry Update
March 13, 2026

Source: ATTOM

What Is the Current Foreclosure Rate in the U.S.?

In February 2026, U.S. foreclosure activity declined slightly from the prior month but remained higher than levels reported one year earlier, continuing a gradual normalization trend in the housing market.

Total filings: 38,840 properties with default notices, scheduled auctions, or bank repossessions

Monthly change: Down 4 percent from January 2026

Year-over-year change: Up 20 percent from February 2025

National rate: One in every 3,701 housing units had a foreclosure filing

States with the worst foreclosure rates: Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Delaware, and Illinois

Foreclosure Starts and Completions

Starts: Lenders initiated foreclosure proceedings on 25,928 U.S. properties during February 2026, down 2 percent from January but 14 percent above the level seen one year earlier.

Completions (REOs): Lenders repossessed 4,077 properties, down 14 percent from the previous month but up 35 percent from a year ago.

What’s Driving February 2026 Foreclosure Trends?

Foreclosure activity in February 2026 marked the twelfth consecutive month of year-over-year increases, extending a gradual upward trend that began early last year. While filings dipped slightly from January, both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures remain higher than they were a year ago.

The increase reflects a continued normalization of foreclosure activity following the historically low levels seen during and immediately after the pandemic period. While filings have risen, foreclosure activity remains well below levels recorded during the housing crisis, with strong homeowner equity, tighter lending standards, and ongoing housing demand continuing to limit widespread homeowner distress.

Foreclosure Rates by State – February 2026

Indiana

1 in every 1,597 housing units (1,864 filings / 2,976,568 units)

Counties: Morgan, Grant, Madison, Shelby

South Carolina

1 in every 2,217 housing units (1,102 filings / 2,443,039 units)

Counties: Dorchester, Kershaw, Chester, Lexington

Florida

1 in every 2,277 housing units (4,504 filings / 10,256,470 units)

Counties: Taylor, Highlands, Polk, Osceola

Delaware

1 in every 2,443 housing units (190 filings / 464,203 units)

Counties: Kent, New Castle, Sussex

Illinois

1 in every 2,590 housing units (2,107 filings / 5,457,452 units)

Counties: Clay, Stephenson, Saint Clair, Will

Ohio

1 in every 2,787 housing units (1,899 filings / 5,292,391 units)

Counties: Cuyahoga, Highland, Jefferson, Lake

New Jersey

1 in every 2,798 housing units (1,355 filings / 3,791,354 units)

Counties: Cumberland, Salem, Camden, Sussex

Nevada

1 in every 2,915 housing units (455 filings / 1,326,471 units)

Counties: Mineral, Lander, Lyon, Churchill

Utah

1 in every 2,984 housing units (410 filings / 1,223,468 units)

Counties: Millard, Wayne, Box Elder, Morgan

Texas

1 in every 3,156 housing units (3,843 filings / 12,128,515 units)

Counties: Liberty, Johnson, Culberson, Caldwell

Maryland

1 in every 3,201 housing units (800 filings / 2,560,784 units)

Counties: Baltimore City, Somerset, Calvert, Charles

Georgia

1 in every 3,237 housing units (1,403 filings / 4,541,835 units)

Counties: Troup, Baldwin, Henry, Webster

Michigan

1 in every 3,419 housing units (1,352 filings / 4,622,236 units)

Counties: Wayne, Gratiot, Hillsdale, Menominee

Iowa

1 in every 3,456 housing units (416 filings / 1,437,699 units)

Counties: Van Buren, Palo Alto, Fayette, Taylor

North Carolina

1 in every 3,457 housing units (1,416 filings / 4,895,668 units)

Counties: Nash, Pasquotank, Hoke, Cleveland

California

1 in every 3,612 housing units (4,055 filings / 14,644,735 units)

Counties: Lake, Shasta, Kings, Butte

Alabama

1 in every 3,800 housing units (615 filings / 2,337,265 units)

Counties: Clarke, Calhoun, Jefferson, Russell

Wyoming

1 in every 4,017 housing units (69 filings / 277,141 units)

Counties: Carbon, Niobrara, Converse, Sweetwater

New Mexico

1 in every 4,072 housing units (235 filings / 956,964 units)

Counties: Eddy, Dona Ana, Quay, Chaves

Arizona

1 in every 4,099 housing units (779 filings / 3,192,839 units)

Counties: Pinal, Cochise, Graham, Greenlee

Idaho

1 in every 4,141 housing units (192 filings / 795,014 units)

Counties: Clark, Gem, Bingham, Shoshone

Connecticut

1 in every 4,167 housing units (370 filings / 1,541,822 units)

Counties: Greater Bridgeport, Northeastern Connecticut, South Central Connecticut, Northwest Hills

Oklahoma

1 in every 4,177 housing units (425 filings / 1,775,127 units)

Counties: Seminole, Coal, Murray, Cimarron

Pennsylvania

1 in every 4,180 housing units (1,389 filings / 5,806,452 units)

Counties: Montour, Washington, Jefferson, Philadelphia

Colorado

1 in every 4,203 housing units (616 filings / 2,589,053 units)

Counties: Morgan, Washington, Pueblo, Crowley

New York

1 in every 4,796 housing units (1,790 filings / 8,585,241 units)

Counties: Rockland, Orange, Chemung, Putnam

Arkansas

1 in every 5,427 housing units (257 filings / 1,394,673 units)

Counties: Dallas, Bradley, Clay, Ashley

Louisiana

1 in every 5,463 housing units (386 filings / 2,108,902 units)

Counties: Iberville, Calcasieu, Plaquemines, Ascension

Maine

1 in every 5,529 housing units (136 filings / 751,876 units)

Counties: Aroostook, Kennebec, Penobscot, Somerset

Missouri

1 in every 5,595 housing units (505 filings / 2,825,287 units)

Counties: Webster, Oregon, Mississippi, Butler

Massachusetts

1 in every 5,622 housing units (539 filings / 3,030,406 units)

Counties: Hampden, Berkshire, Franklin, Dukes

Tennessee

1 in every 6,213 housing units (506 filings / 3,143,670 units)

Counties: Meigs, Pickett, Humphreys, Hardin

Kentucky

1 in every 6,464 housing units (313 filings / 2,023,116 units)

Counties: Menifee, Jackson, Barren, Marion

Alaska

1 in every 6,804 housing units (47 filings / 319,781 units)

Counties: Juneau, Dillingham, Sitka, Matanuska-Susitna

Minnesota

1 in every 7,420 housing units (343 filings / 2,545,030 units)

Counties: Waseca, Stearns, Mcleod, Carlton

Oregon

1 in every 7,584 housing units (245 filings / 1,857,992 units)

Counties: Malheur, Lake, Jefferson, Crook

Hawaii

1 in every 7,779 housing units (73 filings / 567,896 units)

Counties: Honolulu, Hawaii, Maui, Kauai

Washington

1 in every 7,930 housing units (417 filings / 3,306,620 units)

Counties: Lewis, Pierce, Island, Grays Harbor

Wisconsin

1 in every 8,124 housing units (342 filings / 2,778,572 units)

Counties: Taylor, Langlade, Juneau, Iron

Virginia

1 in every 8,965 housing units (411 filings / 3,684,756 units)

Counties: Galax City, Charles City, Wythe, Martinsville City

Mississippi

1 in every 9,511 housing units (141 filings / 1,341,114 units)

Counties: Lawrence, Sunflower, Pike, Lee

Nebraska

1 in every 9,594 housing units (90 filings / 863,444 units)

Counties: Hamilton, Washington, Red Willow, Scotts Bluff

New Hampshire

1 in every 10,808 housing units (60 filings / 648,472 units)

Counties: Cheshire, Grafton, Strafford, Coos

North Dakota

1 in every 11,097 housing units (34 filings / 377,281 units)

Counties: Traill, Bottineau, Richland, Rolette

Kansas

1 in every 12,204 housing units (106 filings / 1,293,635 units)

Counties: Anderson, Ness, Brown, Kearny

Rhode Island

1 in every 13,133 housing units (37 filings / 485,932 units)

Counties: Bristol, Providence, Kent, Washington

Montana

1 in every 16,513 housing units (32 filings / 528,419 units)

Counties: Toole, Glacier, Jefferson, Carbon

South Dakota

1 in every 23,830 housing units (17 filings / 405,114 units)

Counties: Pennington, Minnehaha, Codington

Vermont

1 in every 33,904 housing units (10 filings / 339,042 units)

Counties: Washington, Windham, Franklin, Rutland

West Virginia

1 in every 43,066 housing units (20 filings / 861,325 units)

Counties: Tyler, Roane, Lincoln, Mercer

Key Insights from February 2026 Foreclosure Market Report

Foreclosure activity in February 2026 continued its gradual upward trajectory on a year-over-year basis. While filings declined slightly from the previous month, both foreclosure starts and completed foreclosures remained elevated compared with February 2025. Despite these increases, overall foreclosure activity remains far below the levels seen during the housing crisis, suggesting the current rise reflects a normalization process rather than widespread homeowner distress.

For full report, please click the source link above.

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – Oklahoma Dibble Creek Fire

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
March 22, 2026

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of Oklahoma to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by the Dibble Creek Fire on March 22, 2026. The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance:

McClain

Oklahoma Dibble Creek Fire (FM-5627-OK)

List of Affected Zip Codes

Additional Resources

FEMA’s web site

FEMA’s Disaster Declaration Process

Safeguard Properties Industry Alerts

HUD Moratorium on Foreclosure

VA’s Policy Regarding Natural Disasters

Freddie Mac Disaster Relief Policies

Fannie Mae’s Natural Disaster Relief Policies

FEMA Fire Management Assistance Declaration – Oklahoma Jumping Juniper Fire

Posted on March 26, 2026 by Safeguard

FEMA Alert
March 22, 2026

FEMA has issued a Fire Management Assistance Declaration for the state of Oklahoma to supplement state, tribal and local recovery efforts in areas affected by the Jumping Juniper Fire on March 22, 2026. The following counties have been approved for assistance:

Public Assistance: