Texas leads U.S. foreclosures as rates climb and the tax clock ticks
Bottom line
Houston posted 3,614 Q1 foreclosure starts — second only to New York — Texas led all 50 states, the 30-year mortgage jumped to 6.30% on Thursday’s print, and the property tax protest window slams shut May 15. Every part of your pipeline has a clock on it this week.
Houston ranks #2 U.S. metro for foreclosure starts in Q1
ATTOM’s Q1 2026 report clocked Houston at 3,614 foreclosure starts — second only to New York’s 3,868 and ahead of Chicago, Atlanta, and Dallas. Texas led all 50 states with 10,617 starts and held the shortest U.S. foreclosure timeline at 165 days. Rising property taxes and Houston’s $5,653 average annual home insurance premium are now showing up in lender data as part of the squeeze pushing borrowers behind.
What this means for you
If your insurance and tax bills outran your paycheck, you’re not alone — Houston foreclosure filings just ran #2 in the country and Texas wraps trustee sales faster than any other state at 165 days. There are still three exit ramps before the courthouse steps; let’s pull yours this week.
Houston’s deed-theft scandal is reshaping Texas property law
A Harris County judge in 2025 ordered 40 stolen properties returned to their rightful owners after the Martinez ring forged deeds against deceased homeowners and elderly families — the case that drove Texas to pass SB 16, SB 1734, and SB 693, the strongest deed-fraud laws in state history. The story pulled back into national focus on April 22–24 after a Brooklyn arrest at an eviction and New York City standing up its first-ever Mayor’s Office of Deed Theft Prevention. Most Houston victims don’t discover the fraud until they try to sell or refinance.
What this means for you
If you’ve inherited a home, own a vacant property, or have aging parents in their long-time house — Houston produced the 40-property Martinez ring, and most victims don’t find out for years. A 10-minute check at cclerk.hctx.net every quarter closes the window — grab the Houston Deed Protection Checklist (PDF) for the exact steps. Send me the address and I’ll run a free deed health check on any Harris or Montgomery County property — yours or your parents’.
Source: Bruno Fine Properties — Deed Theft in Houston (full guide)
30-year rate climbs to 6.30%, snapping a four-week dip
Freddie Mac’s PMMS for the week ending April 30 came in at 6.30% on the 30-year fixed, up from 6.23% the prior week and below 6.76% a year ago. The 15-year averaged 5.64%. Despite the uptick, Freddie noted that purchase applications are tracking more than 20% above last year — fence-sitters are starting to move.
What this means for you
Rates ticked up 7 basis points to 6.30% — still cheaper than this time last year, but the dip window is closing. On a $350K mortgage that’s about $16/month over last week. If you’ve been on the fence, lock decisions get pulled forward this week.
Property tax protest deadline is May 15 — 11 days out
The non-homestead protest window and 30-day mail rule both close Friday May 15 across every Texas county. New for 2026: HB 1533 forces the appraisal district to share its evidence packet 14 days before your hearing — the biggest pro-homeowner change in a decade. The homestead exemption rises to $140K under Prop 13, and the senior/disabled add’l exemption goes from $10K to $60K. iFile takes about 15 minutes.
What this means for you
Your 2026 protest deadline is May 15 — 11 days out. New rules force HCAD to hand over its evidence 14 days before your hearing, which is the biggest pro-homeowner change in a decade. iFile is 15 minutes; if you ignore your Notice of Appraised Value you’re leaving real money on the table. Forward this to anyone you know with a Texas home.
The 2026 Texas Property Tax Protest Playbook
A 12-page step-by-step guide covering the May 15 deadline, the 5-step playbook, the evidence that actually wins, and the exemptions most Texans are missing.
The Woodlands cools in March — five ZIPs see longer DOM
Community Impact’s April update showed fewer homes sold in March 2026 across The Woodlands than March 2025, with five ZIP codes posting longer days on market. The biggest sales band was $200K–$399K (123 homes), followed by $400K–$599K (70 homes) — entry-level moved faster than mid-tier. HAR’s countywide March report echoed it: median price down 1.5% to $330,000 and inventory up 8.7% to 34,898 active listings.
What this means for you
The Woodlands mid-tier ($400K–$600K) is the slowest part of the local market right now and inventory countywide is up 8.7% YoY. If your buyers have been patient, this is the week they get to negotiate — and if you’re listing in that band, lead with concession math, not list price.
Source: Community Impact Newspaper
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Whether you’re facing a tough sale, looking for investor-grade inventory, or just want a real conversation about your options — I’m here to help.
