ATTOM identifies U.S. counties most vulnerable to a housing market slowdown
ATTOM's Q1 2026 Housing Risk Report ranks 580 U.S. counties by foreclosure filings, negative equity, affordability and unemployment, highlighting the most fragile markets.
ATTOM's first-quarter 2026 Housing Risk Report evaluates 580 counties using four indicators—foreclosure filings, serious negative equity, wage-to-housing cost ratios, and unemployment—each given equal weight to produce a composite risk score. The counties with the lowest scores, indicating the highest exposure, include Charlotte County, Florida; Butte County, California; Charles County, Maryland; Shasta County, California; and Cumberland County, New Jersey.
Florida contributes 12 of the 50 riskiest counties and California nine, showing a geographic concentration of stress. The report also details the counties with the highest foreclosure rates, such as Liberty County, Texas, and those with the deepest underwater mortgages, all located in Louisiana. Unemployment spikes are most pronounced in Imperial County, California, while Kings County, New York, faces the steepest affordability challenge, with housing costs exceeding 100% of average wages. Connecticut counties were omitted due to insufficient data.
Why it matters
Understanding which local housing markets are most at risk helps policymakers, lenders and buyers anticipate and mitigate potential downturns.
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