• Discounts and special offers
  • Subscriber-only articles and interviews
  • Breaking news and trending topics

Already a subscriber?

By signing up, you accept Moneywise's Terms of Use, Subscription Agreement, and Privacy Policy.

Not interested ?

Delinquencies still high, but rates are slowing

Past due notice
Catherine Lall / Shutterstock

The economic recovery, while slow and uneven in parts of the country, has led to lower delinquency rates among borrowers. A mortgage is considered delinquent when it's at least 30 days past due.

Delinquencies have fallen for five months in a row, according to a new study from real estate data firm CoreLogic.

In January, the most recent month with available data, 5.6% of all U.S. mortgages were in some stage of delinquency or in foreclosure, CoreLogic says. That figure has been falling since August, but remains 2.1 percentage points higher than Jan. 2020.

"While delinquency rates are higher than we would like to see, they continue to decline," says Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. "At the same time, foreclosure rates remain at historic lows. This is a good sign, and considering the improving picture regarding the pandemic and climbing employment rates, we are looking at the potential for a strong year of recovery."

Consumers struggling with multiple types of debt could take proactive steps to lower their load.

For example, if student loan debt is making it tough to keep current on your mortgage payments, explore whether you can refinance your student loans.

Invest in real estate without the headache of being a landlord

Imagine owning a portfolio of thousands of well-managed single family rentals or a collection of cutting-edge industrial warehouses. You can now gain access to a $1B portfolio of income-producing real estate assets designed to deliver long-term growth from the comforts of your couch.

The best part? You don’t have to be a millionaire and can start investing in minutes.

Learn More

Experts worry about a spike in foreclosures

Red Foreclosure Home For Sale Real Estate Sign in Front of House.
Andy Dean Photography / Shutterstock

Despite the dip in delinquencies, nearly 3 million homeowners are behind on their mortgages, according to data from the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

If you’re a homeowner struggling to stay afloat, you may be on a forbearance plan where your lender is allowing you to pause your payments. Maybe that’s allowed you to pay other bills or take steps to reduce your overall debt.

Borrowers with federally backed mortgages have been able to put their payments on hold for up to 18 months, thanks to recent extensions. But when that forbearance expires, housing market observers worry about a potential spike in foreclosures.

“Millions of families are at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure in the coming months, even as the country opens back up," CFPB acting director Dave Uejio says.

The bureau this month proposed a set of rule changes to help prevent foreclosures as the federal protections expire.

One of the proposals would provide a special pre-foreclosure review period that would generally prohibit servicers from starting on any foreclosure until 2022.

Get help before your debt becomes overwhelming

business woman at her desk does the bookkeeping, settles bills and controls the business
@titovailona via Twenty20

Nearly 1.7 million borrowers will exit forbearance programs beginning in September, with many of them a year or more behind on their mortgage payments, the CFPB says.

If you're a borrower who may find yourself needing of help, there are steps you can take to lower your monthly payments.

Could you refinance? Typical mortgage rates are below 3% again, and 13 million homeowners could save an average $283 a month by taking out new loans, says the mortgage data and technology firm Black Knight.

If you’re ready to pull the trigger on a mortgage refi, gather and compare rates from at least five lenders to find the best deal in your area.

Use those same comparison shopping skills to save on other housing costs. When your homeowners insurance policy comes up for renewal, review rate quotes from multiple insurers to look for a lower price on your coverage.

Finally, try to bring in some extra cash through the record-breaking stock market. Use a popular app that helps you earn returns by simply investing your investing your "spare change."

Sponsored

Find the Best Mortgage Rates to Fit Your Budget

Looking for a great mortgage rate? Don’t overpay on your home loan! Get updated mortgage rates, expert insights, and tips to lock in the best deal tailored to your needs. Save on monthly payments and make homeownership more affordable. Start your journey to savings now.

Nancy Sarnoff Freelance Contributor

Nancy Sarnoff is a freelance contributor with Moneywise. Previously, she covered commercial and residential real estate for the Houston Chronicle where she also hosted Looped In, a podcast about the region’s growth, development and economy. Her work has been recognized by the National Association of Real Estate Editors and the Society of American Business Editors and Writers.

Disclaimer

The content provided on Moneywise is information to help users become financially literate. It is neither tax nor legal advice, is not intended to be relied upon as a forecast, research or investment advice, and is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy. Tax, investment and all other decisions should be made, as appropriate, only with guidance from a qualified professional. We make no representation or warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to the data provided, the timeliness thereof, the results to be obtained by the use thereof or any other matter. Advertisers are not responsible for the content of this site, including any editorials or reviews that may appear on this site. For complete and current information on any advertiser product, please visit their website.

†Terms and Conditions apply.