Black Knight: Mortgage Delinquency Rate Increased in December; Prepayments at Record Low

o The national delinquency rate inched up 7 basis points in the month to 3.08%, but finished the year 30 basis points (-9%) below its December 2021 level

o Prepayment activity fell to 0.39% – with single month mortality (SMM) hitting its third consecutive record low dating back to 2000 when Black Knight began reporting the metric

o Serious delinquencies (90+ days past due) continued to improve nationally despite an 8.7K rise in Florida in the wake of Hurricane Ian, with 44 other states seeing seriously past-due volumes decline in the month

o Borrowers 30 days late increased by 40K, up 4.8%, while 60-day delinquencies stayed flat

o Foreclosure starts increased by 15% in the month to 26,900 – the third consecutive increase, but still 30% below pre-pandemic levels

o Foreclosure was started on 4.9% of serious delinquencies in December, up from November, but still 46% below the start rate seen in December 2019 prior to the pandemic

o Active foreclosure inventory rose by 2.3% in the month, though volumes remained subdued throughout 2022 after the record lows of 2021 due to widespread moratoriums and forbearance protections
emphasis added

The percent of loans in the foreclosure process increased slightly in December to 0.37%, from 0.37% in November.

The number of delinquent properties, but not in foreclosure, is down 146,000 properties year-over-year, and the number of properties in the foreclosure process is up 70,000 properties year-over-year.Black Knight: Percent Loans Delinquent and in Foreclosure ProcessDec
2022Nov
2022Dec
2021Dec
2020Delinquent3.08%3.01%3.38%6.08%In Foreclosure0.37%0.37%0.24%0.33%Number of properties:Number of propertiesthat are delinquent,but not in foreclosure:1,653,0001,612,0001,799,0003,251,000Number of propertiesin foreclosurepre-sale inventory:198,000196,000128,000178,000Total Properties1,850,0001,808,0001,927,0003,429,000