Leveling Off: Mortgage Delinquencies Continue to Rise but Pace Moderating in October, CoreLogic Reports

Rhea-AI Summary

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX) released its Loan Performance Insights Report for October 2020, indicating that 6.1% of mortgages were delinquent, a significant increase from 3.7% in October 2019. Serious delinquency rose to 4.1%, three times the previous year's figure, though it declined from the last two months. Early-stage delinquencies decreased to 1.4%. The foreclosure inventory rate remained at 0.3%, the lowest since January 1999. The report attributes higher delinquency rates to job loss and small business closures, but suggests that recent economic improvements and stimulus measures may reduce future delinquencies.

Positive

• The foreclosure inventory rate remains low at 0.3%, indicating a stable housing market.
• Serious delinquency rates have decreased slightly from previous months.

Negative

• Overall delinquency rate rose to 6.1%, a 2.4 percentage point increase from the previous year.
• Serious delinquency is significantly higher than October 2019, at 4.1% versus 1.3%.

CoreLogic^® (NYSE: CLGX), a leading global property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider, today released its monthly Loan Performance Insights Report for October 2020. On a national level, 6.1% of mortgages were in some stage of delinquency (30 days or more past due, including those in foreclosure). This represents a 2.4-percentage point increase in the overall delinquency rate compared to October 2019, when it was 3.7%. Notably, serious delinquency is over three times that of October 2019, but down from the previous two months.

CoreLogic National Overview of Mortgage Loan Performance, featuring October 2020 Data (Graphic: Business Wire)

To gain an accurate view of the mortgage market and loan performance health, CoreLogic examines all stages of delinquency, including the share that transitions from current to 30 days past due. In October 2020, the U.S. delinquency and transition rates, and their year-over-year changes, were as follows:

• Early-Stage Delinquencies (30 to 59 days past due): 1.4%, down from 1.8% in October 2019.
• Adverse Delinquency (60 to 89 days past due): 0.6%, unchanged from 0.6% in October 2019.
• Serious Delinquency (90 days or more past due, including loans in foreclosure): 4.1%, up from 1.3% in October 2019, but down slightly from 4.2% in September and 4.3% in August.
• Foreclosure Inventory Rate (the share of mortgages in some stage of the foreclosure process): 0.3%, down from 0.4% in October 2019. The foreclosure rate has stayed at 0.3% for seven consecutive months, which was the lowest since at least January 1999.
• Transition Rate (the share of mortgages that transitioned from current to 30 days past due): 0.8%, up from 0.7% in October 2019.

Job loss and increased closures of small businesses triggered higher delinquency rates during the pandemic. A record amount of home equity, and the CARES Act loan forbearance, have helped to keep borrowers out of foreclosure, leading to a decline in the foreclosure rate despite high delinquency rates.

“After a financially challenging year, the healthy housing market and new stimulus measures are helping borrowers get back on their feet,” said Frank Martell, president and CEO of CoreLogic. “Given these variables, we should begin to see a reduced flow of homes in delinquency in the coming months.”

“During early autumn, the improving economy enabled more families to remain current on their home loan,” said Dr. Frank Nothaft, chief economist at CoreLogic. “In September and October, 0.8% of current borrowers transitioned into 30-day delinquency. This is the same as the monthly average for the 12 months prior to the pandemic, and well below the record peak of 3.4% of borrowers transitioning into delinquency that we observed in April 2020.”

In October, every state logged an annual increase in overall delinquency rates, with Hawaii (up 4.7 percentage points) and Nevada (up 4.6 percentage points) again topping the list for gains in October. Hawaii began lifting travel restrictions in mid-October, so we may see the growth of tourism reverse some of the economic effects of the pandemic.

Similarly, nearly all U.S. metro areas logged an increase in overall delinquency rates in October. Lake Charles, Louisiana — which was severely impacted by Hurricane Laura in August — experienced the largest annual increase for the second consecutive month with 11 percentage points. Other metro areas with significant overall delinquency increases included Odessa, Texas (up 10.3 percentage points); Kahului, Hawaii (up 7.8 percentage points) and Midland, Texas (up 7.5 percentage points).

The next CoreLogic Loan Performance Insights Report will be released on February 9, 2021, featuring data for November 2020. For ongoing housing trends and data, visit the CoreLogic Insights Blog: www.corelogic.com/insights.

Methodology

The data in The CoreLogic LPI report represents foreclosure and delinquency activity reported through October 2020. The data in this report accounts for only first liens against a property and does not include secondary liens. The delinquency, transition and foreclosure rates are measured only against homes that have an outstanding mortgage. Homes without mortgage liens are not subject to foreclosure and are, therefore, excluded from the analysis. CoreLogic has approximately 75% coverage of U.S. foreclosure data.

Source: CoreLogic

The data provided is for use only by the primary recipient or the primary recipient's publication or broadcast. This data may not be re-sold, republished or licensed to any other source, including publications and sources owned by the primary recipient's parent company without prior written permission from CoreLogic. Any CoreLogic data used for publication or broadcast, in whole or in part, must be sourced as coming from CoreLogic, a data and analytics company. For use with broadcast or web content, the citation must directly accompany first reference of the data. If the data is illustrated with maps, charts, graphs or other visual elements, the CoreLogic logo must be included on screen or website. For questions, analysis or interpretation of the data, contact Valerie Sheets at newsmedia@corelogic.com. Data provided may not be modified without the prior written permission of CoreLogic. Do not use the data in any unlawful manner. This data is compiled from public records, contributory databases and proprietary analytics, and its accuracy is dependent upon these sources.

About CoreLogic

CoreLogic (NYSE: CLGX), the leading provider of property insights and solutions, promotes a healthy housing market and thriving communities. Through its enhanced property data solutions, services and technologies, CoreLogic enables real estate professionals, financial institutions, insurance carriers, government agencies and other housing market participants to help millions of people find, buy and protect their homes. For more information, please visit www.corelogic.com.

CORELOGIC and the CoreLogic logo are trademarks of CoreLogic, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210112005309/en/

FAQ

What does the latest Loan Performance Insights Report from CoreLogic (CLGX) indicate about mortgage delinquency rates?

The report shows that the overall mortgage delinquency rate in October 2020 was 6.1%, up from 3.7% in October 2019.

How has serious delinquency changed according to CoreLogic's report for October 2020?

Serious delinquency rose to 4.1% in October 2020, significantly higher than the 1.3% reported in October 2019.

What is the current foreclosure inventory rate reported by CoreLogic (CLGX)?

The foreclosure inventory rate is currently at 0.3%, the lowest since January 1999.

What factors are contributing to the increase in delinquency rates as reported by CoreLogic?

Higher delinquency rates are attributed to job loss and increased closures of small businesses due to the pandemic.