REVEALED: Zombie Foreclosures Are on the Rise in 5 States

by Joy Dumandan

Zombie foreclosures are popping up across the U.S. as homeowners struggle to make monthly mortgage payments—with rates still hovering close to 7%.

There are at least 1.4 million vacant residential properties across the country, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, a curator of land, property data, and real estate analytics. That represents 1 in 76 homes across the nation—and the number is up slightly from a year ago.

At least 212,268 homes are in the process of foreclosure, just in the first quarter of this year. Meanwhile, among pre-foreclosure properties, 7,094 sit vacant as zombie foreclosures.

A zombie foreclosure occurs when a homeowner abandons their property after receiving a foreclosure notice, but before ownership of the house is transferred.

The report looked at publicly recorded real estate data that included foreclosure status, equity, and owner-occupancy status and matched it against monthly updated vacancy data.

ATTOM’s research found 1 in every 14,668 homes across the U.S. has been vacated due to foreclosure.

“Affordable locales in the Midwest have seen sustained buyer attention as many home shoppers are priced out of higher-priced markets,” says Realtor.com® senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones.

“The rate of foreclosures is relatively low in these areas as homeowners are in a good position to sell for more than they purchased the home for.”

Still, zombie foreclosures continue to plague all areas even though a property might not outright look abandoned.

The report revealed the largest annual increases among the top five states with at least 50 zombie foreclosures in the first quarter of 2025.

1. Missouri

Zombie properties are up 85%, from 27 to 50, according to ATTOM.

For perspective, Realtor.com found there to be 43,380 homes for sale right now in Missouri. In the Kansas City area, the median home list price is $249,000.

2. Michigan

Zombie properties are up 51%, from 55 to 83, according to ATTOM.

There are 37,602 homes for sale in Michigan, according to Realtor.com, with the median home list price in the Detroit area at $100,000.

3. South Carolina

Zombie properties are up 31%, from 74 to 97.

In South Carolina, there are currently 54,656 homes for sale, according to Realtor.com. The median home list price in Charleston is $645,000.

4. Indiana

Zombie properties are up 28%, from 215 to 276.

Realtor.com lists 43,738 homes for sale in Indiana with the median home list price in Indianapolis at $255,000.

5. Kansas

Zombie properties are up 26%, from 69 to 87.

Kansas has 14,216 homes for sale on Realtor.com. The median home list price in Wichita is $270,000.

Zombie homes in pre-foreclosure rise

The number of zombie, or vacant, homes that are in pre-foreclosure is significantly high in several popular metros.

ATTOM’s data found the Miami–Fort Lauderdale–West Palm Beach, FL, area has 747 vacant properties in the first quarter alone. This is tied with the New York–Newark–Jersey City, NY/NJ, area. Coming in next is Chicago–Naperville–Elgin, IL, with 472 vacant properties; Tampa–St. Petersburg–Clearwater, FL, with 324; and Cleveland–Elyria, OH, with 201.

Foreclosures or zombie foreclosures

A foreclosure is a legal process that allows lenders take control over a property from a borrower who has failed to make timely mortgage payments.

A zombie foreclosure happens when a home is left vacant by homeowners who have defaulted on their mortgage. The homeowner might have incorrectly believed they have to move out after receiving a foreclosure notice or they choose to abandon the property altogether. When a homeowner abandons the property, they still hold the title to the property and are therefore responsible for it.

Owners who abandon their homes need to understand they are supposed to maintain the property until the foreclosure process has been completed.

“Zombie foreclosures remain a rare sight across the U.S., making up only a tiny fraction of the nation’s housing stock,” ATTOM’s CEO Rob Barber tells Realtor.com. “With foreclosure activity continuing to trend downward and home equity staying strong, most neighborhoods remain free of the abandoned properties that once posed significant risks in past downturns.”

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