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oreclosures are on the rise nationwide, with Realtor.com reporting a steady increase for the past eight months. Tampa tops the list among U.S. metros over one million residents, recording one foreclosure per 1,373 homes in October. Florida overall leads the country in foreclosure counts, and local markets such as Lakeland (1 in 470) and Ocala (1 in 665) show even higher rates.

    Luis Bedoya, a licensed agent at Charles Rutenberg Realty, described a Seminole property as a “failed project” and is now arranging a short sale for the owner. He notes that short sales and foreclosures have doubled since the start of 2025, with a sharp rise in the last three months alone. Bedoya sees this trend as creating opportunities for savvy investors who can acquire distressed properties, renovate them, and sell for profit, thereby bringing new families into the community.

    University of South Florida economics professor Michael Snipes points out that an eight‑month streak of rising foreclosures is unprecedented since 2008, though he stresses the situation is far less severe than that crisis. He warns that the trend could continue, citing factors such as increasing HOA and insurance costs that strain homeowners on fixed incomes. “When expenses rise and income stays flat, foreclosures become more likely,” Snipes explains.

    Despite the uptick in foreclosures, Snipes does not anticipate a decline in housing prices. He believes that market fundamentals will keep values stable or even push them higher, even as distressed properties become more available.