Percentage of Seriously Underwater Homeowners Remains Steady – NMP Skip to main content

Percentage of Seriously Underwater Homeowners Remains Steady

Feb 08, 2018
For the first time since the Great Recession, the share of homeowners who owe more than the value of their homes is below 10 percent

During the fourth quarter of 2017, 9.3 percent of all residential properties with a mortgage were seriously underwater, according to new data from ATTOM Data Solutions. This is only slightly below the 9.6 percent level in the fourth quarter of 2016, and it marks the It was the smallest year-over-year decrease in share of seriously underwater properties since ATTOM began tracking this data in the first quarter of 2012.
 
On the flip side, ATTOM determined that 25.4 percent of all residential properties with a mortgage were equity rich by the end of the fourth quarter of 2017, up from 24.6 percent from a year ago. Nonetheless, that was the smallest year-over-year increase in share of equity rich properties since the third quarter of 2015.
 
The share of homeowners with at least 20 percent equity dropped 1.1 percentage points from a year ago and the share of homeowners with between 10 percent equity and 10 percent negative equity increased 1.1 percentage points from a year ago. ATTOM stated that this data showed were “increasingly leveraging their equity to sell and move up into another home or by refinancing.”

 
About the author
Published
Feb 08, 2018
President Trump Cancels 21st Century ROAD To Housing Act

Trump cancels signing the bipartisan housing bill, leaving affordability package in limbo

Jun 24, 2026
Commercial, Multifamily Mortgage Debt Tops $5 Trillion In Q1

MBA says outstanding debt grew by $26.3 billion in the first quarter, led by multifamily lending and increased holdings from banks, agencies, and life insurers

Jun 18, 2026
Fed Holds Rates Steady, But Outlook Dims For Mortgage Rate Relief

The Federal Reserve left rates unchanged but updated projections show more policymakers expecting additional hikes

Jun 18, 2026
Congress Nears Final Vote On 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act

Senate voted 87-8 to advance House-amended package, with final votes expected in coming days

Jun 17, 2026
Florida Pending Sales Signal Strong Summer Housing Market

Closed sales rise for a ninth straight month as inventory gives buyers more negotiating power

Jun 16, 2026
Trump Taps Former CFPB Deputy Brian Johnson To Lead Bureau

MBA backs the nomination as lenders await clarity on the future direction of consumer finance regulation under the Trump administration

Jun 12, 2026