New national data released this month places Texas ahead of every other state for completed home foreclosures, with Dallas and Fort Worth seeing a significant climb in filings. According to Leinart Law Firm, most homeowners wait until after a sale date has been posted before seeking help, but the firm is working to educate local families on how much time they actually have to act.
The numbers come from ATTOM's mid-year foreclosure report, released on July 16, 2026. The report counted 227,548 properties nationwide with foreclosure filings in the first six months of the year, up 21 percent from 2025. Completed foreclosures rose even faster, with lenders taking back 27,983 properties nationally, up 33 percent. Texas led all states with 3,322 completed foreclosures, more than any other state.
Bankruptcy filings have also climbed, reaching 591,850 for the twelve months ending March 31, 2026, according to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Chapter 13 filings, the chapter most often used to save a home, rose 8 percent in the first quarter. This trend highlights the growing financial pressure on homeowners in the region.
Texas homeowners face a unique challenge due to the state's nonjudicial foreclosure process, governed by Chapter 51 of the Texas Property Code. A servicer must give a homestead owner 20 days to cure the default, then 21 days' notice before the sale, which is held on the first Tuesday of the month at the county courthouse. This means a homeowner can move from notice to sale in roughly six weeks, without any lawsuit filed or judge reviewing the case.
“People call us on a Monday about a sale scheduled for the next morning, and sometimes we can still help them,” said Marcus Leinart, founder of Leinart Law Firm and a Dallas bankruptcy lawyer with more than 20 years of experience. “But the options are much better six weeks earlier. What homeowners in Texas often don't realize is how little has to happen before a house is sold. There's no courtroom, no hearing, no judge. A filing stops the sale immediately, and Chapter 13 gives a family a structured way to catch up while staying in the home.”
Leinart Law Firm, serving the Dallas-Fort Worth area since 2005, has filed thousands of bankruptcy cases. The firm guides clients through Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 filings, creditor negotiations, and the court process, helping them protect as much of their property as Texas law allows. The Texas homestead exemption carries no limit on value, so qualifying homeowners generally keep their home when they file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
The automatic stay, which takes effect the moment a bankruptcy case is filed, can stop a foreclosure sale, including one set for the following Tuesday. Chapter 13 then allows a homeowner to repay past-due amounts over three to five years. This legal mechanism provides a lifeline for families facing the loss of their home, but timing is critical.
As foreclosure filings continue to climb across Dallas and Fort Worth, the importance of early action cannot be overstated. Homeowners who understand their options before a sale date is posted have more opportunities to save their homes. The data from ATTOM and the U.S. Courts underscores the growing issue, and legal experts like Leinart are urging residents to seek advice as soon as they face financial difficulty.
