Research Note · Published 2026-06-03 · Updated 2026-10-30
Indiana Foreclosures: A County-Level Breakdown
Authored by Carson Nordmann, Founder of Keystone Court Data. See our editorial standards.
This note breaks the filings down to where they actually concentrate: the courthouse docket, county by county.
Based on public court filings, analyzed by Keystone. As of October 2026.
Where Indiana's foreclosure filings concentrate
Indiana's foreclosure activity is not evenly distributed. It concentrates in the Indianapolis metro, the Lake County corridor next to Chicago, and the state's other older industrial cities. Ranked by 2026 foreclosure filings, most active first:
| Rank | County | Major city |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marion County | Indianapolis |
| 2 | Lake County | Gary / Hammond / East Chicago |
| 3 | Allen County | Fort Wayne |
| 4 | St. Joseph County | South Bend |
| 5 | Vanderburgh County | Evansville |
| 6 | Madison County | Anderson |
| 7 | Hendricks County | Avon / Plainfield (Indianapolis suburbs) |
| 8 | Porter County | Valparaiso |
| 9 | Elkhart County | Elkhart / Goshen |
| 10 | Clark County | Jeffersonville |
Counties are ranked by 2026 foreclosure complaints filed in Indiana Circuit and Superior Courts; the ranking shows order only. Includes all parties named in filings (individuals and entities). Methodology: /reports/methodology.
The plaintiffs (lenders) driving Indiana's foreclosure volume
Behind every foreclosure filing is a plaintiff: the mortgage holder or servicer pursuing the action. The most active plaintiffs in Indiana foreclosure complaints in 2026:
| Rank | Plaintiff |
|---|---|
| 1 | NewRez LLC |
| 2 | Freedom Mortgage Corporation |
| 3 | U.S. Bank N.A. |
| 4 | Rocket Mortgage LLC |
| 5 | Lakeview Loan Servicing LLC |
| 6 | PennyMac Loan Services LLC |
| 7 | Carrington Mortgage Services LLC |
| 8 | MidFirst Bank |
| 9 | U.S. Bank Trust N.A. |
| 10 | Fifth Third Bank N.A. |
Ranked by 2026 Indiana foreclosure filings; name variants of the same institution are combined, and the ranking shows order only. Rankings for every covered state: most active foreclosure plaintiffs by state. Lender types: who is actually foreclosing in Indiana.
Local-economy context
Indiana's unemployment rate was 3.4% in September 2026 (seasonally adjusted, preliminary), below the U.S. rate of 4.2% (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics).
Methodology note: how this ranking compares to national totals
The county ranking measures one stage of foreclosure; statewide figures published by foreclosure-data providers usually count more stages, so the two measure different things.
National statewide figures published by foreclosure-data providers typically cover every stage of the foreclosure process: pre-foreclosure default notices, notices of sale, scheduled auctions, and bank-owned REO transfers, aggregated across all 92 Indiana counties.
This ranking measures one specific stage: the foreclosure complaint filed in Indiana Circuit or Superior Court, the first public record of a case.
For investors looking for the earliest-stage signal, before the homeowner has retained counsel and before any sale notice, the court complaint is an early public signal. For total-market-size statistics across all stages, national aggregated feeds are broader. Both are accurate measurements of different slices of foreclosure activity.
For investors and journalists
Full county-level breakdown with value distribution, case-type mix, lender rankings and local-market benchmarking: Indiana Court Filings Intelligence report.
How foreclosure works in Indiana
Indiana is a judicial foreclosure state. A mortgage foreclosure goes through the circuit or superior court in the county where the property is located.
Indiana has no fixed foreclosure length. The law sets minimum waits (below), not a total length; after them, the court and the county sheriff’s scheduling of the sale set the pace, and contested cases can take longer than uncontested ones.
Day counts below are estimates from the first missed payment, not set by law.
- Default (estimated Day 0): The borrower misses mortgage payments. For a principal residence, federal servicing rules generally bar a foreclosure filing until the loan is more than 120 days delinquent (12 CFR 1024.41(f)).
- Pre-suit notice (estimated Day 60–90): Before many home mortgage foreclosures, the lender must send a pre-suit notice on a form prescribed by the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority at least thirty days before filing (IC 32-30-10.5-8, as stated by IHCDA). The form says the creditor may start foreclosure if the default continues thirty more days and lists the free Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network.
- Complaint filed (estimated Day 120+): The lender files a foreclosure complaint in the circuit or superior court of the county where the property is located. This is the first public court record.
- Service of process (estimated Day 130–150): The borrower is formally served. Court rules set 20 days after service to file a response (Ind. Trial Rule 6(D)(1)), plus 3 days when the papers are served by mail (6(G)); if the owner is served by publication, the response is due 30 days after the last published notice (Ind. Trial Rule 4.13(B)(6)). One automatic 30-day extension is available by filing a notice (6(B)).
- Settlement conference (estimated Day 130–200): Borrowers in foreclosure cases filed after June 30, 2009 generally have the legal right to request a settlement conference with the lender when the home is the borrower’s primary residence, a face-to-face meeting to try to work out a deal before a foreclosure takes place (IC 32-30-10.5). The notices of that right are not required after the borrower defaulted on an earlier foreclosure prevention agreement, or when bankruptcy law bars the creditor from the conference (IC 32-30-10.5-8(e)).
- Answer period ends (estimated Day 150–200): If the borrower does not answer, the lender can ask the court for a default judgment.
- Summary or default judgment (estimated Day 170–240): The court enters a judgment of foreclosure, by default (no answer) or on a motion for summary judgment.
- Sale timing and notice (estimated Day 200–270): Indiana Code 32-29-7-3(a) bars issuing process to carry out the judgment or sale order until 3 months after the complaint is filed (12 months for a mortgage made before 1958, 6 months for one made from 1958 through June 30, 1975). The sale can proceed when judgment is entered if the court finds the property abandoned (IC 32-29-7-3(a)(2)), and the owner may, with the judgment holder’s consent, waive the wait in exchange for a release of any deficiency judgment (IC 32-29-7-5). The sheriff advertises the sale once a week for three successive weeks, the first notice at least 30 days before the sale, serves a notice of sale on each owner (IC 32-29-7-3(e)), and schedules the sale for no later than 120 days after the judgment is certified to the sheriff (60 days for a judgment on abandoned property under IC 32-30-10.6-5) (IC 32-29-7-3(c)). None of these is computed here; the notice of sale gives the date, and a sale can be postponed.
- Sheriff sale (estimated Day 270–360): Public auction run by the county sheriff. Payment terms are set by each county sheriff.
- Sheriff’s deed (estimated Day 280–380): After the sale, the sheriff delivers a deed to the buyer.
- Possession (estimated Day 290–400): If occupants remain, a buyer can ask the court for a writ of assistance (a court order); the Newton County Sheriff, for example, describes serving the writ and then removing occupants.
Redemption: Before the sale, any owner or part owner can redeem the property from the judgment by paying the judgment, interest and costs to the clerk (before the judgment is sent to the sheriff) or to the sheriff (after) (IC 32-29-7-7). Indiana Code 32-29-7-13 says there may be no redemption from the foreclosure of a mortgage made after June 30, 1931 except as IC 32-29-7 and IC 32-29-8 provide; IC 32-29-7 gives the owner no right to redeem after the sale. An attorney licensed in Indiana can say what applies in a specific case.
Deficiency judgments: If any part of the judgment, interest or costs is still unpaid after the sale, the sheriff levies the rest on the defendant’s other property (IC 32-29-7-8); whether the borrower owes a balance depends on the judgment the court entered. An owner who waives the 3-month wait with the judgment holder’s consent gets a release of any deficiency judgment (IC 32-29-7-5). An attorney licensed in Indiana can say what applies in a specific case.
Reinstatement: Whether the owner can catch up by paying only the missed payments usually depends on the mortgage and the lender’s loss-mitigation rules. Paying the full judgment, interest and costs before the sale ends the case (IC 32-29-7-7).
Mediation: Borrowers in foreclosure cases filed after June 30, 2009 generally have the legal right to request a settlement conference with the lender when the home is the borrower’s primary residence, a face-to-face meeting to try to work out a deal before a foreclosure takes place (IC 32-30-10.5). The notices of that right are not required after the borrower defaulted on an earlier foreclosure prevention agreement, or when bankruptcy law bars the creditor from the conference (IC 32-30-10.5-8(e)).
Full guide: How foreclosure works in Indiana. Federal servicing rules: the CFPB 120-day pre-foreclosure rule (12 CFR 1024.41(f)).
General information about Indiana law, checked October 2026. Day ranges are estimates and may not match a specific case. This is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Talk to an attorney licensed in Indiana before relying on it.
Read more: Indiana foreclosure timeline and the foreclosure timeline by state.
Marion County at a glance (public statistics)
County seat: Indianapolis.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 971,822 | Census |
| Housing units | 439,034 | Census |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 56% | Census |
| Median home value | $207K | Census |
| Housing units that are vacant (U.S.: 10%) | 10% | Census |
| Homes that are single-family detached (U.S.: 61%) | 60% | Census |
| Homes built before 1940 (U.S.: 12%) | 15% | Census |
| Residents aged 65 or older (U.S.: 17%) | 13% | Census |
| Owner-occupied homes with no mortgage (owned free and clear) (U.S.: 39%) | 31% | Census |
| Median age of residents (U.S.: 38.9) | 34.3 | Census |
| HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom, monthly (Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN) | $1,473 | HUD |
| HUD Fair Market Rent, 3-bedroom, monthly (Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN) | $1,907 | HUD |
| New housing units permitted in 2025 | 1,342 | Census |
| Change in units permitted, 2024 to 2025 | -30% | Census |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey and Building Permits Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents.
Lake County at a glance (public statistics)
County seat: Crown Point.
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 498,990 | Census |
| Housing units | 216,330 | Census |
| Homes that are owner-occupied | 71% | Census |
| Median home value | $215K | Census |
| Housing units that are vacant (U.S.: 10%) | 11% | Census |
| Homes that are single-family detached (U.S.: 61%) | 72% | Census |
| Homes built before 1940 (U.S.: 12%) | 15% | Census |
| Residents aged 65 or older (U.S.: 17%) | 17% | Census |
| Owner-occupied homes with no mortgage (owned free and clear) (U.S.: 39%) | 36% | Census |
| Median age of residents (U.S.: 38.9) | 39.6 | Census |
| HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom, monthly (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN) | $1,317 | HUD |
| HUD Fair Market Rent, 3-bedroom, monthly (Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN) | $1,612 | HUD |
| New housing units permitted in 2025 | 1,262 | Census |
| Change in units permitted, 2024 to 2025 | -24% | Census |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey and Building Permits Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents.
Related guides
Citation
Keystone Court Data, "Indiana Foreclosures: A County-Level Breakdown," updated 2026-10-30, https://keystonecourtdata.com/reports/indiana-foreclosure-2026-county-breakdown
Unemployment: US Bureau of Labor Statistics (September 2026, seasonally adjusted, preliminary).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which markets have the most distressed properties in 2026?
Distress concentration varies by county and changes over time. Keystone's intelligence reports break down the filing mix, lenders and property values by county so you can compare markets.
How do I find the best markets for distressed property investing?
Look for counties with high filing volume relative to population, favorable foreclosure timelines, and property values that support your investment strategy. Keystone's county intelligence reports provide per-county comparisons.
Are foreclosure filings increasing in 2026?
Filing trends vary by state and county and change over time. Check Keystone's county-level reports for your market.
What causes foreclosure rates to rise or fall?
Interest rates, employment, household finances and local economic conditions all play a part, and the mix differs by market. Court filings reflect legal actions that were actually filed, not predictions.