By DON FENLEY
Foreclosure filings across the Tri-Cities jumped 48.2% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period a year ago, according to data compiled by CoreData from ATTOM’s Q1 2026 Foreclosure Market Report.

The three-metro region recorded 123 properties with foreclosure filings, up from 83 in Q1 2025 but down 28.1% from 171 in Q4 2025. The quarter-over-quarter decline reflects a typical seasonal pullback after elevated fourth-quarter activity. The year-over-year increase aligns with a national trend showing rising financial stress among some homeowners.

Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, the region’s largest metro by foreclosure volume, recorded 62 filings in Q1 2026, up 37.8% from 45 a year earlier and down 30.3% from 89 in Q4 2025.

Johnson City posted the sharpest year-over-year increase with 40 filings compared with 23 in Q1 2025. That’s  a gain of 73.9%  though volume fell 31.0% from the prior quarter’s 58 filings.

Greeneville recorded 21 filings, a 40.0% increase over Q1 2025’s 15 filings and a more modest 12.5% decline from Q4 2025’s 24 filings.

ATTOM CEO Rob Barber noted that while foreclosure volumes remain below historical peaks, the continued rise may signal shifting housing market dynamics for homeowners under financial pressure.

What It Means for the Tri-Cities

For a region where affordability has been under pressure the uptick in foreclosure activity warrants monitoring. Rising filings do not automatically translate into distressed sale inventory, as many foreclosure processes resolve before reaching the open market. However, continued increases could introduce a modest supply factor into a market that has otherwise been characterized by constrained inventory.

Categories: REAL ESTATE