The Tri-Cities housing market is still resisting the national uptick in foreclosure activity, but July brought a few notable shifts – especially in parts of the Kingsport–Bristol metro.

The Johnson City metro continued its trend of very low foreclosure activity, according to ATTOM’s July analysis.

• Carter County logged 3 filings, a slight year-over-year decline.
• Unicoi County held steady with just 1 filing — the lowest count in the metro.
• Washington County saw 3 filings, down from both last month and a year ago.

With an overall rate of 1 filing for every 13,500 housing units, Johnson City remains one of the most foreclosure-resistant metros in the state.

Across the Kingsport–Bristol metro, the picture is more varied.

• Hawkins County saw 6 filings, double last year’s total, pushing its rate to 1 in every 4,550 housing units.
• Bristol, VA posted the highest foreclosure rate in the region at 1 in every 2,885 housing units — a spike that stands out despite the small numbers involved.
• Sullivan County saw 7 filings, down from both last month and last year.
• Washington County, VA and Scott County, VA remain quiet, with just 1 filing between them.

Nationally, foreclosures climbed again in July. “July’s foreclosure activity continues to trend upward year-over-year, with increases in both starts and completions,” said Rob Barber, CEO at ATTOM. “While rising home prices are helping many owners maintain equity, the steady climb in filings suggests growing pressure in some markets.”

Those markets don’t include the Tri-Cities. With U.S. filings up 11% from June and 13% from last year the Tri-Cities numbers look calm. But small markets can see big swings in percentages when just a handful of properties change status — which is why the Bristol and Hawkins increases are worth watching.

The Tri-Cities remains a bright spot in the national foreclosure landscape. Johnson City’s stability is helping to anchor the region’s numbers, while Kingsport–Bristol’s pockets of higher activity bear watching. For now, the takeaway is simple: foreclosure risk here is still low, but local shifts could hint at where pressure might build next.

Categories: CORE DATA