ICE First Look at Mortgage Performance: Mortgage Performance Remains Strong as FHA Foreclosures Emerge
The data shows that overall mortgage performance remains historically strong, with both delinquencies and foreclosure activity remaining below long-term averages. While some shifts are emerging among government-backed loan segments, these trends largely represent a normalization of market dynamics rather than broad-based weakness.
“The mortgage market remains remarkably resilient, with mortgage performance continuing to hold up well,” said
Key takeaways from this month’s findings include:
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Delinquencies remain well below pre-pandemic norms: The national delinquency rate fell by 2 basis points (bps) in September to 3.42%, down 6 bps from the same time last year and 58 bps below its
September 2019 pre-pandemic level. -
Strength across delinquency bands in September: Both early-stage (30-day) and late-stage (90+ day) delinquencies improved month-over-month, as the vast majority of borrowers remain current on their mortgage payments.
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Non-current rates improved for most investors: The non-current rate (delinquencies plus active foreclosures) declined year-over-year among GSE (-3 bps),
VA (-4 bps) and portfolio-held loans (-17 bps). FHA loans were the notable exception, rising by 44 bps from last year’s levels. -
Foreclosure activity is returning to normal ranges: There were 103,000 foreclosure starts in Q3 2025, a 23% increase from the same period last year, but 18% below Q3 2019’s pre-pandemic levels.
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Improving efficiency in resolution: The number of loans in active foreclosure rose modestly year-over-year (18%), yet overall foreclosure volume remains historically low, with Q3 foreclosure sales (21,000) at roughly half of 2019 levels. FHA loans account for the majority of that rise, making up 38% of active foreclosures, roughly half of the annual rise in foreclosure starts and 80% of the rise in active foreclosures. The resumption of
VA foreclosure activity following last year’s moratorium is largely responsible for the remainder. - Prepayments are edging higher: Prepayments rose by 8 bps in September to a 0.74% single month mortality (SMM) rate, a 15% increase from the prior year, as interest rates began to ease in August.
Data as of
Total
Month-over-month change: -0.44%
Year-over-year change: -1.75%
Total
Month-over-month change: 5.69%
Year-over-year change: 16.38%
Total
Month-over-month change 43.51%
Year-over-year change: 60.53%
Monthly prepayment rate (SMM): 0.74%
Month-over-month change: 11.72%
Year-over-year change: 15.29%
Foreclosure sales: 7,200
Month-over-month change: 2.74%
Year-over-year change: 34.90%
Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: 1,877,000
Month-over-month change: -8,000
Year-over-year change: -4,000
Number of properties that are 90 or more days past due, but not in foreclosure: 477,000
Month-over-month change: -5,000
Year-over-year change: 1,000
Number of properties in foreclosure pre-sale inventory: 222,000
Month-over-month change: 12,000
Year-over-year change: 34,000
Number of properties that are 30 or more days past due or in foreclosure: 2,098,000
Month-over-month change: 4,000
Year-over-year change: 30,000
|
Top 5 States by Non-Current* Percentage |
|
|
|
7.91% |
|
|
7.83% |
|
|
5.86% |
|
|
5.55% |
|
|
5.54% |
|
|
|
|
Bottom 5 States by Non-Current* Percentage |
|
|
|
2.20% |
|
|
2.16% |
|
|
2.13% |
|
|
2.05% |
|
|
2.03% |
|
|
|
|
Top 5 States by 90+ Days Delinquent Percentage |
|
|
|
2.07% |
|
|
1.94% |
|
|
1.51% |
|
|
1.41% |
|
|
1.30% |
|
|
|
|
Top 5 States by 12-Month Change in Non-Current* Percentage |
|
|
|
-8.56% |
|
|
-8.18% |
|
|
-6.66% |
|
|
-5.92% |
|
|
-5.84% |
|
|
|
|
Bottom 5 States by 12-Month Change in Non-Current* Percentage |
|
|
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7.28% |
|
|
5.03% |
|
|
4.93% |
|
|
4.43% |
|
|
4.06% |
| *Non-current totals combine foreclosures and delinquencies as a percent of active loans in that state. | ||
| Notes: | ||
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1) |
Totals are extrapolated based on ICE’s loan-level database of mortgage assets. |
|
|
2) |
All whole numbers are rounded to the nearest thousand, except foreclosure starts and sales, which are rounded to the nearest hundred. |
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The company will provide a more in-depth review of this data in its monthly Mortgage Monitor report, which will be available online at https://www.icemortgagetechnology.com/resources/data-reports on
For more information about gaining access to ICE’s loan-level database, please send an email to ICE-MortgageMonitor@ice.com.
About the ICE First Look
ICE maintains the nation’s leading repository of loan-level residential mortgage data and performance information – which covers the majority of the U.S. market – including tens of millions of loans across the spectrum of credit products and more than 230 million historical records. In addition, the company maintains a robust public property records databases that covers 99.9% of the
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Category: Mortgage Technology
Source:
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251024607369/en/
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