North Carolina Court Filings Intelligence
Live court-record analysis spanning property-related filings (foreclosure, probate, divorce, partition, guardianship) across North Carolina. Data sourced direct from county court dockets in our coverage area. Updated 2026-09-28. See methodology.
- Filing volume accelerating (+6.4%) — last 2 complete months (44978 filings) vs prior 2 complete months (42285 filings). Excludes current month if still in progress.
- 11.9% off-site owners — share of North Carolina filings where the owner's mailing address differs from the property (rental, inherited, second-home, or transitional).
- Max gross cap rate 5.3% at HUD Fair Market Rent — $16,356/year on the $308,900 median estimated market value. Excludes operating costs.
- 69.5% of filings are Lien — the dominant lead category in North Carolina during the observed window.
At a glance
200019 property-related court filings tracked across 101 North Carolina counties since Jan 2024.
18383 typical monthly statewide filing volume.
1% of filings involve owners whose mailing address differs from the property address (2865 filings).
$308,900 median estimated property value across the 33073 filings with property-enrichment data (17% coverage).
3.7% North Carolina unemployment rate (BLS, as of 2026-07). Filings should be read against the local-economy backdrop.
Filing type breakdown
| Filing type | Filings | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other | 168453 | 84.2% | |
| Divorce | 20284 | 10.1% | |
| Probate | 6732 | 3.4% | |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 3064 | 1.5% | |
| Tax Sale | 565 | 0.3% | |
| Guardianship | 474 | 0.2% | |
| Real Estate Dispute | 199 | 0.1% | |
| Pre-Probate | 182 | 0.1% | |
| Partition | 66 | 0.0% |
Each row is a distinct case as recorded on the county docket.
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Filing velocity by case type
How each distress category is trending statewide — are foreclosures accelerating while divorces cool, or vice versa? This breakdown is only possible with direct court-record data.
| Case type | Total | Share | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | 98199 | 49.1% | +8.1% |
| Other | 59402 | 29.7% | +4.4% |
| Divorce | 20284 | 10.1% | +12.0% |
| Eviction | 8110 | 4.1% | -51.1% |
| Probate | 6726 | 3.4% | +0.8% |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 3041 | 1.5% | +44.7% |
| Contract | 1406 | 0.7% | +6.8% |
| Personal Property | 746 | 0.4% | -7.8% |
| Tax Sale | 565 | 0.3% | -7.2% |
| Guardianship | 474 | 0.2% | +182.4% |
| Child Support | 274 | 0.1% | +0.9% |
| Negligence | 222 | 0.1% | -8.0% |
| Real Estate Dispute | 199 | 0.1% | +49.2% |
| Pre-Probate | 182 | 0.1% | +60.0% |
| Partition | 64 | 0.0% | -53.5% |
| Injunction | 62 | 0.0% | +28.6% |
| Custody | 27 | 0.0% | -22.2% |
Trend = recent 2-3 month volume vs prior 2-3 months (current partial month excluded). Positive = accelerating; negative = cooling.
Seasonal filing patterns
Court filings peak in Aug and are lowest in Dec. The 3.3x peak-to-trough ratio suggests strong seasonal patterns — investors who time their outreach around Aug can reach more distressed homeowners.
| Month | Avg filings | Relative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 12678.5 | 55% |
| Feb | 20641 | 89% |
| Mar | 22567 | 97% |
| Apr | 21061 | 91% |
| May | 20090 | 86% |
| Jun | 22195 | 96% |
| Jul | 21751 | 94% |
| Aug | 23227 | 100% |
| Dec | 6939 | 30% |
Average filings per calendar month across all observed years. Relative column shows each month as a percentage of the peak month (Aug), with a 3.3x peak-to-trough ratio.
ZIP code distress hotspots
Distress is geographically dispersed across 297 ZIP codes, with no single area dominating.
| ZIP | Area | Filings | Share | Median value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28027 | Concord | 253 | 0.1% | $395,620 |
| 27405 | Greensboro | 241 | 0.1% | $255,600 |
| 28025 | Concord | 228 | 0.1% | $326,040 |
| 27406 | Greensboro | 203 | 0.1% | $271,100 |
| 27265 | High Point | 179 | 0.1% | $332,800 |
| 27407 | Greensboro | 149 | 0.1% | $261,300 |
| 27410 | Greensboro | 143 | 0.1% | $356,950 |
| 27455 | Greensboro | 129 | 0.1% | $318,900 |
| 27377 | Burlington | 105 | 0.1% | $292,600 |
| 27260 | High Point | 103 | 0.1% | $227,100 |
Top 10 of 297 ZIP codes with filings.
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Non-resident owner analysis
Most filings (99%) involve owner-occupied properties. The relatively low absentee rate suggests distress is primarily hitting homeowners, not institutional investors.
| Case type | Total filings | Non-resident % |
|---|---|---|
| Lien | 98199 | 2.0% |
| Other | 59402 | 0.1% |
| Divorce | 20284 | 1.1% |
| Eviction | 8110 | 0.5% |
| Probate | 6732 | 4.9% |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 3064 | 4.3% |
| Contract | 1406 | 1.1% |
| Personal Property | 746 | 1.2% |
| Tax Sale | 565 | 8.0% |
| Guardianship | 474 | 1.7% |
| Child Support | 274 | 0.7% |
| Negligence | 222 | 0.5% |
| Real Estate Dispute | 199 | 2.5% |
| Pre-Probate | 182 | 2.2% |
| Partition | 66 | 7.6% |
| Injunction | 62 | 1.6% |
| Custody | 27 | 0.0% |
Non-resident = owner's mailing address differs from the property address. Could indicate out-of-state landlords, inherited estates, second homes, or in-transition properties.
Distress composition and shifts
The distress mix is stable across all case types.
| Case type | Recent share | Earlier share | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | 51.2% | 49.6% | +1.6pp |
| Other | 31.1% | 27.8% | +3.3pp |
| Divorce | 11.7% | 9.6% | +2.1pp |
| Eviction | 1.7% | 5.2% | -3.5pp |
| Probate | 1.4% | 4.2% | -2.8pp |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 1.0% | 1.6% | -0.6pp |
| Contract | 0.8% | 0.7% | +0.1pp |
| Personal Property | 0.3% | 0.4% | -0.1pp |
| Tax Sale | 0.3% | 0.3% | +0.0pp |
| Real Estate Dispute | 0.2% | 0.1% | +0.1pp |
| Child Support | 0.1% | 0.1% | +0.0pp |
| Negligence | 0.1% | 0.1% | +0.0pp |
| Pre-Probate | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.0pp |
| Domestic Violence | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.0pp |
| Guardianship | 0.0% | 0.3% | -0.3pp |
| Alimony | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.0pp |
| Partition | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.0pp |
| Custody | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.0pp |
| Injunction | 0.0% | 0.0% | +0.0pp |
Distress diversity score: 1.78 (Shannon entropy; higher = more diverse distress sources). "Recent" = last 2 complete months; "Earlier" = all prior months.
Top counties by filing volume
Counties with live deep-dive reports linked below. See all North Carolina counties tracked →
| County | Filings | Share | Deep dive | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | 22324 | 11.2% | View report → | |
| Wake County | 20277 | 10.1% | View report → | |
| Guilford County | 11024 | 5.5% | View report → | |
| Cumberland County | 7616 | 3.8% | View report → | |
| Forsyth County | 6301 | 3.2% | View report → | |
| Cabarrus County | 5952 | 3.0% | View report → | |
| Union County | 4371 | 2.2% | View report → | |
| Gaston County | 4208 | 2.1% | View report → | |
| Johnston County | 4178 | 2.1% | View report → | |
| Alamance County | 4044 | 2.0% | View report → |
County-by-county comparison dashboard
Across 101 counties with 10+ filings, Mecklenburg County leads in filing volume (22324 filings, 11.2% of the state). Union County has the highest median property value ($441,500).
| County | Filings | Share | Median value | Absentee % | Top case type | Resolved % | Avg events | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mecklenburg County | 22324 | 11.2% | $351,800 | 0.9% | Lien (52.1%) | 0.0% | 11.6 | Report → |
| Wake County | 20277 | 10.1% | $416,856 | 1.2% | Lien (49.0%) | 0.0% | 9.4 | Report → |
| Guilford County | 11024 | 5.5% | $291,800 | 0.9% | Lien (57.2%) | 0.0% | 14.0 | Report → |
| Cumberland County | 7616 | 3.8% | $251,500 | 1.9% | Lien (59.0%) | 0.0% | 12.0 | Report → |
| Forsyth County | 6301 | 3.2% | $273,600 | 1.3% | Lien (50.1%) | 0.0% | 16.1 | Report → |
| Cabarrus County | 5952 | 3.0% | $360,820 | 1.0% | Other (40.2%) | 0.0% | 10.5 | Report → |
| Union County | 4371 | 2.2% | $441,500 | 1.0% | Lien (50.4%) | 0.0% | 12.4 | Report → |
| Gaston County | 4208 | 2.1% | $285,790 | 0.7% | Lien (56.4%) | 0.0% | 12.1 | Report → |
| Johnston County | 4178 | 2.1% | $340,800 | 3.5% | Lien (51.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Alamance County | 4044 | 2.0% | $280,022 | 0.8% | Lien (43.2%) | 0.0% | 12.5 | Report → |
| Pitt County | 3987 | 2.0% | $232,465 | 4.7% | Lien (49.8%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Davidson County | 3724 | 1.9% | $277,890 | 0.5% | Lien (66.8%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Rowan County | 3699 | 1.8% | $216,584 | 0.6% | Lien (45.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Durham County | 3518 | 1.8% | $390,235 | 1.2% | Lien (61.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| New Hanover County | 3422 | 1.7% | $416,100 | 1.1% | Lien (60.3%) | 0.0% | 10.1 | Report → |
| Catawba County | 3303 | 1.7% | $236,500 | 0.9% | Other (45.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Randolph County | 3296 | 1.6% | $193,510 | 0.4% | Other (55.9%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Onslow County | 3250 | 1.6% | $280,330 | 1.0% | Lien (38.0%) | 0.0% | 17.1 | Report → |
| Brunswick County | 3182 | 1.6% | $279,330 | 2.0% | Lien (55.9%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Iredell County | 3175 | 1.6% | $327,580 | 1.0% | Lien (55.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Buncombe County | 2943 | 1.5% | $401,400 | 1.0% | Lien (46.5%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Wayne County | 2825 | 1.4% | $191,510 | 0.7% | Other (43.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Robeson County | 2669 | 1.3% | $90,700 | 1.7% | Lien (42.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Harnett County | 2506 | 1.3% | $304,876 | 0.8% | Lien (49.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Rockingham County | 2448 | 1.2% | $179,022 | 0.5% | Lien (31.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Henderson County | 2427 | 1.2% | $301,600 | 1.0% | Other (47.6%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Cleveland County | 1949 | 1.0% | $174,017 | 1.4% | Lien (58.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Craven County | 1892 | 0.9% | $218,400 | 1.1% | Lien (45.5%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Nash County | 1843 | 0.9% | $210,640 | 0.6% | Lien (57.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Rutherford County | 1840 | 0.9% | $154,400 | 2.6% | Other (58.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Wilson County | 1655 | 0.8% | $229,341 | 0.6% | Lien (50.3%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Moore County | 1646 | 0.8% | $304,700 | 1.5% | Other (49.5%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Haywood County | 1487 | 0.7% | $185,500 | 2.1% | Lien (70.9%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| McDowell County | 1423 | 0.7% | $117,860 | 5.7% | Other (61.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Lenoir County | 1423 | 0.7% | $161,257 | 0.8% | Lien (65.5%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Richmond County | 1404 | 0.7% | $116,496 | 0.6% | Other (65.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Caldwell County | 1401 | 0.7% | $193,200 | 1.9% | Lien (49.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Orange County | 1397 | 0.7% | $389,200 | 1.0% | Lien (45.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Stanly County | 1379 | 0.7% | $226,765 | 1.2% | Other (48.9%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Wilkes County | 1343 | 0.7% | $186,160 | 1.9% | Other (49.2%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Sampson County | 1313 | 0.7% | $140,771 | 0.7% | Lien (43.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Columbus County | 1299 | 0.6% | $65,500 | 1.1% | Other (47.3%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Franklin County | 1279 | 0.6% | $323,980 | 1.7% | Lien (58.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Burke County | 1271 | 0.6% | $155,861 | 1.5% | Lien (51.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Halifax County | 1266 | 0.6% | $87,800 | 1.3% | Lien (46.3%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Lee County | 1260 | 0.6% | $239,600 | 1.0% | Lien (47.5%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Surry County | 1240 | 0.6% | $163,360 | 0.9% | Other (53.2%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Vance County | 1205 | 0.6% | $149,124 | 1.0% | Lien (47.2%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Pender County | 1129 | 0.6% | $325,213 | 1.6% | Lien (56.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Lincoln County | 1116 | 0.6% | $371,423 | 0.5% | Lien (59.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Granville County | 1089 | 0.5% | $191,255 | 1.5% | Lien (47.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Hoke County | 995 | 0.5% | — | 0.0% | Lien (57.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Bladen County | 992 | 0.5% | $81,760 | 2.0% | Other (50.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Edgecombe County | 984 | 0.5% | $137,848 | 0.5% | Lien (54.9%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Beaufort County | 951 | 0.5% | — | 0.0% | Lien (44.5%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Chatham County | 938 | 0.5% | $385,692 | 3.1% | Lien (45.8%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Jackson County | 884 | 0.4% | $306,586 | 3.3% | Other (43.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Scotland County | 862 | 0.4% | $59,810 | 2.4% | Lien (47.8%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Carteret County | 860 | 0.4% | $315,204 | 1.0% | Other (49.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Pasquotank County | 803 | 0.4% | $205,400 | 12.0% | Lien (55.3%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Duplin County | 799 | 0.4% | $140,000 | 1.9% | Lien (45.9%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Cherokee County | 740 | 0.4% | $114,350 | 3.1% | Other (47.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Montgomery County | 730 | 0.4% | $57,013 | 5.9% | Other (50.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Anson County | 721 | 0.4% | $72,200 | 1.5% | Other (53.8%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Person County | 711 | 0.4% | $262,451 | 1.0% | Lien (62.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Stokes County | 607 | 0.3% | $180,000 | 0.8% | Lien (47.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Davie County | 580 | 0.3% | $251,090 | 12.2% | Lien (61.6%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Transylvania County | 578 | 0.3% | $271,630 | 7.3% | Lien (49.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Jones County | 559 | 0.3% | $103,850 | 0.5% | Divorce (73.5%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Polk County | 545 | 0.3% | $268,653 | 2.4% | Other (59.6%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Watauga County | 525 | 0.3% | $264,900 | 3.8% | Lien (45.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Macon County | 510 | 0.3% | $191,990 | 1.4% | Lien (56.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Yadkin County | 508 | 0.3% | $151,039 | 0.4% | Lien (44.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Alexander County | 503 | 0.3% | $167,264 | 1.0% | Lien (36.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Avery County | 501 | 0.3% | $190,000 | 3.0% | Lien (85.6%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Currituck County | 500 | 0.2% | $321,700 | 3.2% | Lien (51.2%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Dare County | 491 | 0.2% | $437,600 | 2.2% | Lien (64.6%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Martin County | 486 | 0.2% | $145,170 | 1.2% | Lien (50.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Warren County | 432 | 0.2% | $115,371 | 2.1% | Lien (41.2%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Ashe County | 390 | 0.2% | $206,700 | 4.1% | Lien (50.8%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Perquimans County | 343 | 0.2% | $73,000 | 1.5% | Lien (49.3%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Hertford County | 305 | 0.2% | $86,608 | 1.3% | Lien (49.8%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Caswell County | 288 | 0.1% | $138,087 | 1.4% | Lien (59.4%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Greene County | 283 | 0.1% | $105,530 | 0.7% | Other (44.2%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Bertie County | 257 | 0.1% | $55,565 | 2.7% | Lien (50.2%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Chowan County | 257 | 0.1% | — | 0.0% | Other (40.1%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Swain County | 247 | 0.1% | $173,110 | 2.4% | Lien (51.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Washington County | 244 | 0.1% | — | 0.0% | Lien (49.2%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Madison County | 227 | 0.1% | $97,028 | 4.8% | Lien (59.5%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Clay County | 206 | 0.1% | $123,600 | 4.4% | Lien (57.8%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Pamlico County | 192 | 0.1% | $192,973 | 2.6% | Other (46.9%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Northampton County | 192 | 0.1% | $71,035 | 1.0% | Lien (67.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Gates County | 180 | 0.1% | $226,225 | 2.2% | Lien (46.7%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Mitchell County | 178 | 0.1% | $145,300 | 3.4% | Lien (46.6%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Yancey County | 158 | 0.1% | — | 3.8% | Lien (57.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Camden County | 151 | 0.1% | — | 2.6% | Lien (49.0%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Graham County | 106 | 0.1% | $140,790 | 2.8% | Lien (45.3%) | 0.0% | — | Report → |
| Alleghany County | 101 | 0.1% | $113,200 | 1.0% | Other (52.5%) | 0.0% | — | |
| Tyrrell County | 77 | 0.0% | $93,650 | 3.9% | Other (33.8%) | 0.0% | — | |
| Demo Caldwell County | 67 | 0.0% | $277,000 | 10.4% | Pre-Foreclosure (80.6%) | 9.0% | 7.8 | |
| Hyde County | 57 | 0.0% | $57,868 | 5.3% | Other (57.9%) | 0.0% | — |
Counties with fewer than 10 filings are excluded. Median value based on county assessor records. Resolution rate from tracked docket outcomes. Average events = average docket entries per case (higher = more complex proceedings).
Monthly statewide filing activity
| Month | Filings | vs prior | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2024 | 2 | ||
| Dec 2025 | 6939 | +6937 | |
| Jan 2026 | 25355 | +18416 | |
| Feb 2026 | 20641 | -4714 | |
| Mar 2026 | 22567 | +1926 | |
| Apr 2026 | 21061 | -1506 | |
| May 2026 | 20090 | -971 | |
| Jun 2026 | 22195 | +2105 | |
| Jul 2026 | 21751 | -444 | |
| Aug 2026 | 23227 | +1476 | |
| Sep 2026 | 16160 | -7067 |
Most recent month may be partial.
Property value distribution
| Estimated value | Filings | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $75k | 1185 | 3.6% | |
| $75k - $150k | 3149 | 9.5% | |
| $150k - $250k | 6945 | 21.0% | |
| $250k - $400k | 12439 | 37.6% | |
| $400k+ | 9355 | 28.3% |
Median: $308,900. Mean: $348,725. From third-party property enrichment.
Day-of-week filing pattern
| Day | Filings | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 25993 | 13.0% | |
| Mon | 42139 | 21.1% | |
| Tue | 40928 | 20.5% | |
| Wed | 39499 | 19.8% | |
| Thu | 38080 | 19.0% | |
| Fri | 11863 | 5.9% | |
| Sat | 1486 | 0.7% |
Filings show some weekend activity, suggesting after-hours electronic filing.
Housing stock + distress signals (filing-weighted across 100 North Carolina counties)
Underlying housing stock and distress indicators across North Carolina counties where we track filings, weighted by filing volume so high-filing counties dominate the rollup. From US Census ACS 5-year data. National reference values shown for context.
| Indicator | North Carolina (weighted) | US average |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancy rate (incl. seasonal + for-sale) | 11.9% | 10.5% |
| Share of owner-occupied units carrying a mortgage | 62.2% | 60.8% |
| Pre-1940 housing stock | 5.0% | 12.3% |
| Single-family detached share | 65.3% | 61.2% |
| Residents age 65 or older | 16.9% | 17.3% |
Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS 2023 5-year), filing-weighted across 100 North Carolina counties.
New construction across North Carolina (2025)
Total housing permits filed across the 100 North Carolina counties we track. Trend signal on whether new housing demand is accelerating or contracting state-wide.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total housing units permitted (2025) | 86,167 |
| Year-over-year change (2024 → 2025) | -9.5% |
| Single-family share of permits | 75.8% |
| Single-family units permitted | 65,303 |
| Multifamily units permitted (2+ units per building) | 20,864 |
Source: US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, summed across 100 North Carolina counties.
Rent benchmark (North Carolina HUD Fair Market Rents, filing-weighted)
HUD Fair Market Rents averaged across 100 North Carolina counties (spanning 71 metro areas), weighted by filing volume. FY 2026. Used to set Section 8 voucher amounts; investors use it as a defensible rent-estimate floor.
| Unit size | Weighted FMR / month |
|---|---|
| Efficiency / studio | $1,134 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,199 |
| 2-bedroom | $1,363 |
| 3-bedroom | $1,739 |
| 4-bedroom | $2,146 |
Source: US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents (2026), filing-weighted across 100 North Carolina counties.
Macro context: home prices and national delinquency
Court-filing volume should be read against the broader housing-market backdrop. North Carolina's home prices and the national mortgage-delinquency rate are the two macro signals most directly relevant to foreclosure exposure.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| North Carolina home price index (year-over-year) | +2.4% | 2026-04-01 |
| North Carolina home price index (cumulative since 2020) | +73.2% | 2026-04-01 |
| National mortgage delinquency rate (30+ day, single-family) | 1.86% | 2026-04-01 |
Sources: Federal Housing Finance Agency state house price indices (FRED series NCSTHPI); Federal Reserve Board, Mortgage Delinquency 30+Day Rate on Single-Family Residential Mortgages (FRED series DRSFRMACBS). Updated quarterly.
Local-market benchmark
Demographics of the ZIPs where North Carolina filings cluster, weighted by filing count and benchmarked against Census ACS 2023 5-year:
| Indicator | Filing-weighted average |
|---|---|
| Median household income | $70,153 |
| Median home value | $242,245 |
| Owner-occupancy rate | 60.5% |
| Median gross rent | $1,170/mo |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates, filing-weighted across 10 top ZIPs.
Post-filing sale outcomes in North Carolina
What happens to distressed properties after a court filing? By cross-referencing each filing's property with county assessor and deed-transfer records, we track which properties sold, how long the process took, and at what price. This analysis covers 253630 filings (13.9% of all 1818685 filings) where parcel-level tracking is available.
Sale rates by filing type
Not all distress types lead to property sales at the same rate. Foreclosures tend to result in eventual sales more often than probate or divorce filings.
| Filing type | Filings | Confirmed sold | Sale rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate | 25766 | 2079 | 8.1% |
| Partition | 174 | 14 | 8.0% |
| Guardianship | 1882 | 127 | 6.7% |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 8982 | 388 | 4.3% |
| Custody | 66 | 1 | 1.5% |
How sales relate to the filing
Not every post-filing sale is caused by the court case. We classify each sale's relationship to the original filing so investors can focus on the highest-signal outcomes. 55.6% of confirmed sales were directly driven by the filing.
| Attribution | Meaning | Sales | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sold within 2 years of filing | Sold within 2 years of the filing — inside the window where the case is a plausible cause | 4137 | 55.5% |
| Sold later (not attributable) | Sold more than 2 years after filing — recorded, but too late to attribute to the case | 3214 | 43.1% |
| Undetermined | No sale has been recorded yet — this is an open question, not a finding of 'did not sell' | 97 | 1.3% |
| Sold during the case | Sold while the case was still open — the strongest link between the filing and the sale | 4 | 0.1% |
Source: county assessor and deed-transfer records cross-referenced with court filings by parcel ID. Sale outcomes tracked for 253630 of 1818685 filings (13.9% parcel coverage). Prices based on 1152 sales with recorded sale amounts.
Court Docket Activity
Across 11814 tracked cases, the average case has 10 docket entries (median 7). 41.7% of cases are in the "mid-process (6-15 events)" stage. Partition cases are the most court-active at 14.2 events on average. Higher docket activity signals that courts are actively processing the case, which can indicate timeline urgency for investor outreach.
| Activity level | Cases | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Early stage (1-5 events) | 4580 | 38.8% |
| Mid-process (6-15 events) | 4927 | 41.7% |
| Advanced (16+ events) | 2307 | 19.5% |
Docket activity by case type
| Case type | Avg. events | Cases tracked |
|---|---|---|
| Partition | 14.2 | 47 |
| Probate | 10.4 | 8276 |
| Guardianship | 9.1 | 927 |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 8.4 | 2558 |
Based on 11814 of 200019 North Carolina filings with active docket monitoring (6%). Docket entries include filings, hearings, orders, and motions.
Procedural Stage Pipeline
Of 214 tracked cases, 2.3% reached the service-of-process stage, 60.7% progressed to a hearing.
| Terminal outcome | Cases | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dismissed | 33 | 15.4% | |
| Sheriff sale | 23 | 10.7% | |
| Execution / enforcement | 6 | 2.8% | |
| Case closed | 5 | 2.3% |
Progression by case type
| Case type | Cases | Served | Hearing | Resolved |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Foreclosure | 174 | 0.0% | 74.7% | 32.2% |
| Probate | 29 | 0.0% | 0.0% | 17.2% |
| Partition | 8 | 62.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
Based on 214 cases with 244 recorded stage transitions from North Carolina court docket entries. Stages identified from docket events: service of process, responses, hearings, judgments, settlements, and dismissals.
Property Value Profile
The median assessed value of properties in court filings is $303,964. Injunction filings involve the highest-value properties (median $507,494), while Tax Sale filings trend lower (median $74,700). The largest segment (49.2%) falls in the $250K - $500K range.
| Value range | Properties | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Under $100K | 2980 | 8.8% |
| $100K - $250K | 9251 | 27.2% |
| $250K - $500K | 16731 | 49.2% |
| $500K - $1M | 4456 | 13.1% |
| Over $1M | 619 | 1.8% |
Value breakdown by case type
| Case type | Median value | Avg value | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | $304,560 | $334,933 | 23998 |
| Divorce | $291,100 | $341,289 | 4043 |
| Probate | $340,433 | $411,450 | 2895 |
| Pre-Foreclosure | $304,500 | $352,216 | 1415 |
| Eviction | $310,700 | $357,975 | 443 |
| Other | $261,054 | $318,199 | 389 |
| Contract | $277,602 | $306,100 | 336 |
| Tax Sale | $74,700 | $128,455 | 162 |
| Guardianship | $380,543 | $473,881 | 138 |
| Personal Property | $163,300 | $253,405 | 88 |
| Child Support | $217,900 | $228,882 | 44 |
| Partition | $363,724 | $401,731 | 28 |
| Real Estate Dispute | $314,000 | $318,494 | 19 |
| Negligence | $337,400 | $319,396 | 16 |
| Injunction | $507,494 | $489,352 | 11 |
| Pre-Probate | $200,200 | $240,733 | 7 |
Based on county assessor records for 34037 properties with court filings (17.0% of total filings) across North Carolina. Values are tax-assessed amounts, not market listing prices.
Investment Opportunity Score by ZIP Code
Across 161 ZIP codes with sufficient court filing data, ZIP 27405 (Greensboro) ranks highest with an investment opportunity score of 70/100, driven by high filing volume (241 cases). 56 of 161 scored ZIPs are above the average score of 33.
| Rank | ZIP Code | Area | Score | Filings | Avg Value | Absentee % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 27405 | Greensboro |
70
|
241 | — | 0% |
| #2 | 28027 | Concord |
69
|
253 | — | 0% |
| #3 | 27406 | Greensboro |
66
|
203 | — | 0% |
| #4 | 28025 | Concord |
66
|
228 | — | 0% |
| #5 | 27265 | High Point |
65
|
179 | — | 0% |
| #6 | 27410 | Greensboro |
60
|
143 | — | 0% |
| #7 | 27407 | Greensboro |
57
|
149 | — | 0% |
| #8 | 27455 | Greensboro |
52
|
129 | — | 0% |
| #9 | 27260 | High Point |
50
|
103 | — | 0% |
| #10 | 28269 | Charlotte |
48
|
101 | — | 0% |
How the score is calculated
The Investment Opportunity Score combines four dimensions from verified court filing data:
- Filing volume (35%): More filings = more potential deals in the area
- Property value (25%): Higher assessed values = larger potential deal sizes
- Absentee owner rate (25%): Absentee owners are more likely to sell at a discount
- Case type diversity (15%): Multiple case types = broader opportunity set
Each dimension is normalized to a 0–100 scale across all scored ZIPs, then weighted and combined. Scores should be compared within the same state, not across different markets.
Based on 200019 court filings across 161 ZIP codes in North Carolina. ZIPs with fewer than 3 filings are excluded. Property values from county assessor records. Absentee status from property ownership verification.
Distress Capital Analysis
$11,641,862,600 in assessed property value is currently tied up in 34037 court-filed properties. 83% of properties with equity data carry 20%+ equity, signaling owners with real financial stakes in resolution. Lien filings represent the largest capital pool ($8,037,723,387 across 23998 properties).
Equity Position of Distressed Properties
Median equity position: 43.2% · Based on 83 properties with equity data
Capital at Risk by Filing Type
| Filing Type | Total Value | Properties | Avg Value | High Equity % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | $8,037,723,387 | 23998 | $334,933 | -- |
| Divorce | $1,379,831,104 | 4043 | $341,289 | -- |
| Probate | $1,191,148,443 | 2895 | $411,450 | -- |
| Pre-Foreclosure | $498,385,726 | 1415 | $352,216 | 81.8% |
| Eviction | $158,582,945 | 443 | $357,975 | -- |
| Other | $123,779,422 | 389 | $318,199 | -- |
| Contract | $102,849,537 | 336 | $306,100 | -- |
| Guardianship | $65,395,555 | 138 | $473,881 | -- |
| Personal Property | $22,299,620 | 88 | $253,405 | -- |
| Tax Sale | $20,809,707 | 162 | $128,455 | -- |
| Partition | $11,248,480 | 28 | $401,731 | 100.0% |
| Child Support | $10,070,819 | 44 | $228,882 | -- |
| Real Estate Dispute | $6,051,391 | 19 | $318,494 | -- |
| Injunction | $5,382,869 | 11 | $489,352 | -- |
| Negligence | $5,110,341 | 16 | $319,396 | -- |
| Pre-Probate | $1,685,130 | 7 | $240,733 | -- |
| Custody | $727,394 | 3 | $242,465 | -- |
Based on 34037 properties with assessor valuations (17.0% of 200019 total filings) across North Carolina. Values are county assessor estimates. Equity calculated from estimated value vs outstanding mortgage balance where available.
Market Absorption & Turnover Analysis
219,681 court filings tracked with 6 resolved (0.0% absorption rate). The court system is accumulating cases faster than they resolve, creating a growing backlog of 219,675 active cases.
| Month | New Filings | Resolved | Net | Inflow | Absorption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | 422 | 0 | +422 | 0.0% | |
| Feb 2020 | 449 | 0 | +449 | 0.0% | |
| Mar 2020 | 394 | 0 | +394 | 0.0% | |
| Apr 2020 | 242 | 0 | +242 | 0.0% | |
| May 2020 | 298 | 0 | +298 | 0.0% | |
| Jun 2020 | 341 | 0 | +341 | 0.0% | |
| Jul 2020 | 431 | 0 | +431 | 0.0% | |
| Aug 2020 | 474 | 0 | +474 | 0.0% | |
| Sep 2020 | 827 | 0 | +827 | 0.0% | |
| Oct 2020 | 785 | 0 | +785 | 0.0% | |
| Nov 2020 | 460 | 0 | +460 | 0.0% | |
| Dec 2020 | 405 | 0 | +405 | 0.0% | |
| Jan 2021 | 392 | 0 | +392 | 0.0% | |
| Feb 2021 | 475 | 0 | +475 | 0.0% | |
| Mar 2021 | 577 | 0 | +577 | 0.0% | |
| Apr 2021 | 425 | 0 | +425 | 0.0% | |
| May 2021 | 434 | 0 | +434 | 0.0% | |
| Jun 2021 | 510 | 0 | +510 | 0.0% | |
| Jul 2021 | 391 | 0 | +391 | 0.0% | |
| Aug 2021 | 408 | 0 | +408 | 0.0% | |
| Sep 2021 | 384 | 0 | +384 | 0.0% | |
| Oct 2021 | 391 | 0 | +391 | 0.0% | |
| Nov 2021 | 202 | 0 | +202 | 0.0% | |
| Dec 2021 | 48 | 0 | +48 | 0.0% | |
| Jan 2022 | 145 | 0 | +145 | 0.0% | |
| Feb 2022 | 126 | 0 | +126 | 0.0% | |
| Mar 2022 | 150 | 0 | +150 | 0.0% | |
| Apr 2022 | 121 | 0 | +121 | 0.0% | |
| May 2022 | 103 | 0 | +103 | 0.0% | |
| Jun 2022 | 172 | 0 | +172 | 0.0% | |
| Jul 2022 | 118 | 0 | +118 | 0.0% | |
| Aug 2022 | 63 | 0 | +63 | 0.0% | |
| Sep 2022 | 81 | 0 | +81 | 0.0% | |
| Oct 2022 | 92 | 0 | +92 | 0.0% | |
| Nov 2022 | 121 | 0 | +121 | 0.0% | |
| Dec 2022 | 140 | 0 | +140 | 0.0% | |
| Jan 2023 | 81 | 0 | +81 | 0.0% | |
| Feb 2023 | 86 | 0 | +86 | 0.0% | |
| Mar 2023 | 96 | 0 | +96 | 0.0% | |
| Apr 2023 | 41 | 0 | +41 | 0.0% | |
| May 2023 | 54 | 0 | +54 | 0.0% | |
| Jun 2023 | 86 | 0 | +86 | 0.0% | |
| Jul 2023 | 108 | 0 | +108 | 0.0% | |
| Aug 2023 | 144 | 0 | +144 | 0.0% | |
| Sep 2023 | 159 | 0 | +159 | 0.0% | |
| Oct 2023 | 26 | 0 | +26 | 0.0% | |
| Nov 2023 | 22 | 0 | +22 | 0.0% | |
| Dec 2023 | 30 | 0 | +30 | 0.0% | |
| Jan 2024 | 87 | 0 | +87 | 0.0% | |
| Feb 2024 | 89 | 0 | +89 | 0.0% | |
| Mar 2024 | 114 | 0 | +114 | 0.0% | |
| Apr 2024 | 92 | 0 | +92 | 0.0% | |
| May 2024 | 94 | 0 | +94 | 0.0% | |
| Jun 2024 | 135 | 0 | +135 | 0.0% | |
| Jul 2024 | 161 | 0 | +161 | 0.0% | |
| Aug 2024 | 180 | 0 | +180 | 0.0% | |
| Sep 2024 | 186 | 0 | +186 | 0.0% | |
| Oct 2024 | 219 | 0 | +219 | 0.0% | |
| Nov 2024 | 208 | 0 | +208 | 0.0% | |
| Dec 2024 | 210 | 0 | +210 | 0.0% | |
| Jan 2025 | 171 | 0 | +171 | 0.0% | |
| Feb 2025 | 168 | 0 | +168 | 0.0% | |
| Mar 2025 | 173 | 0 | +173 | 0.0% | |
| Apr 2025 | 233 | 0 | +233 | 0.0% | |
| May 2025 | 409 | 0 | +409 | 0.0% | |
| Jun 2025 | 378 | 0 | +378 | 0.0% | |
| Jul 2025 | 4921 | 0 | +4921 | 0.0% | |
| Aug 2025 | 15109 | 0 | +15109 | 0.0% | |
| Sep 2025 | 16582 | 0 | +16582 | 0.0% | |
| Oct 2025 | 15297 | 0 | +15297 | 0.0% | |
| Nov 2025 | 11988 | 0 | +11988 | 0.0% | |
| Dec 2025 | 14630 | 0 | +14630 | 0.0% | |
| Jan 2026 | 16580 | 0 | +16580 | 0.0% | |
| Feb 2026 | 15191 | 0 | +15191 | 0.0% | |
| Mar 2026 | 15437 | 2 | +15435 | 0.0% | |
| Apr 2026 | 14026 | 4 | +14022 | 0.0% | |
| May 2026 | 13853 | 0 | +13853 | 0.0% | |
| Jun 2026 | 15669 | 0 | +15669 | 0.0% | |
| Jul 2026 | 14517 | 0 | +14517 | 0.0% | |
| Aug 2026 | 15134 | 0 | +15134 | 0.0% | |
| Sep 2026 | 4910 | 0 | +4910 | 0.0% |
Resolution by Case Type
| Case Type | Filed | Resolved | Absorption | Avg Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | 135244 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Divorce | 25099 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Eviction | 20010 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Probate | 17994 | 4 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Other | 7739 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 7414 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Contract | 1864 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Personal Property | 1226 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Tax Sale | 945 | 2 | 0.2% | n/a |
| Guardianship | 927 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Child Support | 337 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Negligence | 325 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Real Estate Dispute | 259 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Injunction | 111 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Custody | 66 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Pre-Probate | 64 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Partition | 48 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Alimony | 8 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
Absorption rate measures the percentage of filed cases that have reached a terminal resolution (judgment, dismissal, settlement, or sale). A low absorption rate indicates a growing backlog of active cases in the court system. Resolution timing based on 6 resolved cases out of 219681 total filings across North Carolina.
Equity-Outcome Correlation
59417 properties with assessed values analyzed across equity levels. High-equity properties (20%+) represent 0.0% of filings with a 35.7% resolution rate.
| Equity Level | Properties | Share | Resolved | Resolution Rate | Avg Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High (20%+) |
14
|
0.0% | 5 | 35.7% | — |
| Unknown Equity |
59402
|
100.0% | 0 | 0.0% | — |
Equity Profile by Case Type
| Case Type | Properties | High Equity % | Resolution Rate | Avg Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | 36729 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Probate | 9376 | 0.1% | 0.0% | — |
| Divorce | 6786 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 3239 | 0.1% | 0.0% | — |
| Eviction | 1141 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Contract | 478 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Other | 478 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Guardianship | 436 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Tax Sale | 383 | 0.5% | 0.5% | — |
| Personal Property | 164 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Child Support | 65 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Partition | 40 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Real Estate Dispute | 38 | 5.3% | 0.0% | — |
| Negligence | 26 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Injunction | 16 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Pre-Probate | 9 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Custody | 9 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
Equity positions derived from county assessor data (assessed values minus outstanding liens where available). Resolution outcomes classified from court docket entries. Only properties with non-zero assessed values are included. Data spans North Carolina's tracked counties.
Property Type Distribution
92.3% of distressed properties are classified as Residential, followed by Single Family (4.0%).
| Property type | Count | Share | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 3,693 | 92.3% | |
| Single Family | 162 | 4.0% | |
| Vacant Land | 69 | 1.7% | |
| Industrial | 30 | 0.8% | |
| Commercial | 28 | 0.7% | |
| Agricultural | 9 | 0.2% | |
| Condo/Townhouse | 9 | 0.2% |
Property type by case type
| Case type | Dominant property type | Share | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate | Residential | 87.1% | 1,582 |
| Lien | Residential | 100.0% | 1,192 |
| Pre-Foreclosure | Residential | 90.0% | 830 |
| Divorce | Residential | 100.0% | 192 |
| Guardianship | Residential | 85.6% | 132 |
| Other | Residential | 100.0% | 22 |
| Partition | Residential | 92.3% | 13 |
| Contract | Residential | 100.0% | 12 |
| Child Support | Residential | 100.0% | 12 |
| Pre-Probate | Residential | 100.0% | 5 |
Property classifications from county assessor records for 4,000 properties (1.8% of total filings across North Carolina). Categories normalized from assessor codes.
Case Aging & Stall Analysis
50,912 cases (23.2%) have been active for over a year without resolution. 6,073 filings in the last <30 days represent fresh opportunities.
| Age | Total | Resolved | Still active | Resolution rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| <30 days | 6,073 | 0 | 6,073 | 0.0% |
| 30-90 days | 28,488 | 0 | 28,488 | 0.0% |
| 3-6 months | 42,797 | 4 | 42,793 | 0.0% |
| 6-12 months | 91,411 | 2 | 91,409 | 0.0% |
| 1-2 years | 37,244 | 0 | 37,244 | 0.0% |
| 2+ years | 13,668 | 0 | 13,668 | 0.0% |
Resolution speed by case type
| Case type | Total | Resolved | Rate | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | 135,244 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Divorce | 25,099 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Eviction | 20,010 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Probate | 17,994 | 4 | 0.0% | — |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 7,414 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Contract | 1,864 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Personal Property | 1,226 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Other | 1,059 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Tax Sale | 945 | 2 | 0.2% | — |
| Guardianship | 927 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
Case aging computed from filing date to present for unresolved cases across North Carolina. Resolution classified from court docket entries (judgments, settlements, dismissals, sheriff sales).
Property Age & Distress Profile
16,015 filings (7.1% of scope) have year-built data. 2000+ properties are most common (48%). Newer properties (2000+) average $796,329 — 1.7x the value of Pre-1960 stock ($478,998).
| Construction era | Filings | Share | Avg value | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-1960 | 937 | 5.9% | $478,998 | — |
| 1960–1979 | 2,420 | 15.1% | $399,516 | — |
| 1980–1999 | 4,902 | 30.6% | $548,050 | — |
| 2000+ | 7,756 | 48.4% | $796,329 | — |
Value trend: 2000+ properties average $796,329 — 1.66x the value of Pre-1960 stock ($478,998).
Top case types by construction era
Construction year sourced from county tax assessor records across North Carolina. Value is assessed value from the most recent available tax assessment. Resolution timing based on court docket events.
Municipality filing concentration across North Carolina
Court filings in NC span 212 municipalities. Raleigh leads with 1942 filings (40.6% of total), predominantly Pre-Foreclosure (51.0%). Filing activity is geographically concentrated — the top 3 municipalities account for 54% of all filings.
| Municipality | Filings | Share | Top case type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | 1942 | 40.6% | Pre-Foreclosure (51.0%) |
| Cary | 400 | 8.4% | Probate (57.5%) |
| Wake Forest | 261 | 5.5% | Probate (50.2%) |
| Apex | 183 | 3.8% | Probate (46.4%) |
| Garner | 167 | 3.5% | Pre-Foreclosure (47.9%) |
| Knightdale | 167 | 3.5% | Pre-Foreclosure (62.3%) |
| Fuquay-Varina | 114 | 2.4% | Probate (69.3%) |
| Holly Springs | 111 | 2.3% | Probate (52.3%) |
| Wendell | 111 | 2.3% | Pre-Foreclosure (52.3%) |
| Zebulon | 101 | 2.1% | Pre-Foreclosure (54.5%) |
| Charlotte | 101 | 2.1% | Pre-Foreclosure (72.3%) |
| Fayetteville | 96 | 2.0% | Pre-Foreclosure (82.3%) |
| Wilmington | 71 | 1.5% | Probate (83.1%) |
| Burlington | 67 | 1.4% | Pre-Foreclosure (95.5%) |
| Greensboro | 64 | 1.3% | Pre-Foreclosure (64.1%) |
Top 15 of 212 municipalities with court filings across North Carolina. Data from 4,788 filings (2% of total). Municipality names from county assessor records.
Quarterly Filing Volume Trends across North Carolina
Filing trends across 17 comparable quarters show 174,877 tracked filings in NC. Lien shows the largest composition shift, growing share from 0.0% to 66.6%.
| Quarter | Total | Lien | Divorce | Eviction | Probate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Q1 | 421 | — | — | — | 169 (40.1%) |
| 2022 Q2 | 396 | — | — | — | 133 (33.6%) |
| 2022 Q3 | 262 | — | — | — | 113 (43.1%) |
| 2022 Q4 | 353 | — | — | — | 216 (61.2%) |
| 2023 Q1 | 263 | — | — | — | 203 (77.2%) |
| 2023 Q2 | 181 | — | — | — | 123 (68.0%) |
| 2023 Q3 | 411 | — | — | — | 347 (84.4%) |
| 2024 Q1 | 290 | — | — | — | 210 (72.4%) |
| 2024 Q2 | 321 | — | — | — | 240 (74.8%) |
| 2024 Q3 | 527 | — | — | — | 411 (78.0%) |
| 2024 Q4 | 637 | — | — | — | 507 (79.6%) |
| 2025 Q1 | 512 | — | — | — | 379 (74.0%) |
| 2025 Q2 | 1020 | — | — | — | 928 (91.0%) |
| 2025 Q3 | 36612 | 22791 (62.3%) | 4764 (13.0%) | 6485 (17.7%) | 952 (2.6%) |
| 2025 Q4 | 41915 | 27012 (64.4%) | 5239 (12.5%) | 6472 (15.4%) | 1071 (2.6%) |
| 2026 Q1 | 47208 | 31384 (66.5%) | 5189 (11.0%) | 5500 (11.7%) | 1880 (4.0%) |
| 2026 Q2 | 43548 | 33626 (77.2%) | 5343 (12.3%) | 880 (2.0%) | 1164 (2.7%) |
Composition shift: Lien filings are growing share, moving from 0.0% to 66.6% of total filings (+66.6 percentage points).
Only comparable quarters shown (collection ramp-up periods excluded). Filing dates from verified court records. Current partial quarter excluded from trend calculations.
Property Value Distribution
The median property value in distressed filings is $316,900, with the largest concentration (36.4%) in the $300K–$500K range. Injunction filings have the highest median value ($530,984) while Tax Sale filings are lowest ($62,187).
| Price range | Count | Share | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50K | 2,677 | 4.5% | |
| $50K–$100K | 2,402 | 4.0% | |
| $100K–$150K | 3,608 | 6.1% | |
| $150K–$200K | 4,944 | 8.3% | |
| $200K–$300K | 13,464 | 22.7% | |
| $300K–$500K | 21,636 | 36.4% | |
| $500K+ | 10,686 | 18.0% |
Value by case type
| Case type | Median value | Average value | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | $305,200 | $353,110 | 36,729 |
| Probate | $403,974 | $667,253 | 9,376 |
| Divorce | $305,550 | $354,461 | 6,786 |
| Pre-Foreclosure | $314,335 | $385,434 | 3,239 |
| Eviction | $330,500 | $369,821 | 1,141 |
| Contract | $282,801 | $311,522 | 478 |
| Other | $276,973 | $305,871 | 478 |
| Guardianship | $453,395 | $572,527 | 436 |
Assessed property values from county assessor records for 59,417 properties (26.5% of total filings) across North Carolina. Values reflect tax-assessed amounts, not market price.
Ownership Duration Before Filing
The median ownership duration before a court filing is 6.7 years, with 38.4% of owners holding the property 10+ years (a strong equity signal for investors). Probate cases show the longest tenure (11.8 yr median) vs. Child Support (3.1 yr).
| Ownership period | Count | Share | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | 2,076 | 18.4% | |
| 2–5 years | 2,525 | 22.4% | |
| 5–10 years | 2,363 | 20.9% | |
| 10–20 years | 2,429 | 21.5% | |
| 20+ years | 1,904 | 16.9% |
Tenure by case type
| Case type | Median tenure | Average tenure | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | 5.4 yr | 8.2 yr | 5,511 |
| Probate | 11.8 yr | 14.1 yr | 3,723 |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 8.7 yr | 11.1 yr | 1,033 |
| Divorce | 4.1 yr | 6.4 yr | 656 |
| Guardianship | 8.4 yr | 12.0 yr | 191 |
| Other | 7.9 yr | 10.9 yr | 60 |
| Eviction | 4.5 yr | 9.7 yr | 34 |
| Partition | 6.6 yr | 10.9 yr | 20 |
Duration calculated from last recorded property sale to court filing date for 11,297 properties (5.0% of total filings) across North Carolina. Longer ownership often correlates with higher equity.
Repeat litigation patterns across North Carolina
Of 197,914 unique property owners in court filings, 15,636 (7.9%) appear in multiple cases, including 3,397 with 3 or more filings. The most active repeat filer has 335 cases spanning 12 months. Pre-Foreclosure cases have the highest repeat rate at 19.9%.
Repeat rate by case type
| Case type | Repeat owners | Total owners | Repeat rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | 12865 | 118310 | 10.9% |
| Divorce | 727 | 25000 | 2.9% |
| Probate | 373 | 20129 | 1.9% |
| Eviction | 1802 | 17879 | 10.1% |
| Other | 1092 | 7546 | 14.5% |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 1187 | 5972 | 19.9% |
| Contract | 221 | 1839 | 12.0% |
| Personal Property | 129 | 1201 | 10.7% |
Analysis based on 197,914 unique owner names across North Carolina court filings. Repeat filers are property owners appearing in 2 or more distinct cases. This pattern identifies recurring distress — a signal invisible in aggregated property databases.
Serial distressed properties across North Carolina
Of 44,290 unique properties in court filings, 4,671 (10.5%) have multiple filings (averaging 2.4 filings per property). Average time between repeat filings: 4 months. Contract properties have the highest repeat rate at 21.4%.
Serial distress rate by case type
| Case type | Serial properties | Total properties | Serial rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lien | 4244 | 28108 | 15.1% |
| Probate | 204 | 6140 | 3.3% |
| Divorce | 183 | 4454 | 4.1% |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 337 | 3289 | 10.2% |
| Eviction | 158 | 936 | 16.9% |
| Tax Sale | 15 | 550 | 2.7% |
| Other | 76 | 446 | 17.0% |
| Contract | 93 | 434 | 21.4% |
Analysis based on 44,290 unique property addresses across North Carolina court filings. Serial distressed properties have 2 or more distinct case filings at the same address — indicating recurring financial or legal distress. These properties are high-value investor targets.
Land vs improvement value composition
Across 4,254 properties with assessed value breakdowns, the median land share is 20.8% (median land value $60,000, median improvement value $209,752). 291 properties (6.8%) are land-dominant (50%+ land value) — potential teardown or vacant-lot targets. Partition cases skew most land-heavy (median 38.3%) while Child Support skews most improvement-heavy (16.5%).
Land share distribution
| Land share bracket | Properties | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10% | 220 | 5.2% |
| 10–20% | 1,731 | 40.7% |
| 20–30% | 1,266 | 29.8% |
| 30–50% | 746 | 17.5% |
| 50–70% | 175 | 4.1% |
| Over 70% | 116 | 2.7% |
Land share by case type
| Case type | Filings | Median land % |
|---|---|---|
| Probate | 1,565 | 27.6% |
| Lien | 1,382 | 17.4% |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 832 | 21.6% |
| Divorce | 233 | 17.7% |
| Guardianship | 130 | 25.2% |
| Tax Sale | 27 | 18.1% |
| Other | 24 | 17.0% |
| Contract | 15 | 17.4% |
| Child Support | 14 | 16.5% |
| Partition | 12 | 38.3% |
Analysis of 4,254 North Carolina properties (1.9% of filings) with assessed land and improvement value breakdowns. Land-dominant properties (50%+ land value) may represent teardown candidates or vacant lots. Improvement-heavy properties (under 20% land) typically indicate rehab opportunities.
Prior sale value trajectory
Across 14,621 properties with purchase and assessed value data, the median value change since purchase is +64.4%. 2,480 properties (17.0%) are underwater (current assessed value below purchase price). Short-hold owners (<5 yr) show a median +17.6% value change vs +132.0% for long-hold (10+ yr). Injunction cases have the highest underwater rate (45.5%) while Contract has the lowest (0.0%).
Value change distribution
| Value change bracket | Properties | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| 50%+ loss | 54 | 0.4% |
| 20–50% loss | 195 | 1.3% |
| 0–20% loss | 2,231 | 15.3% |
| 0–20% gain | 1,760 | 12.0% |
| 20–50% gain | 1,933 | 13.2% |
| 50–100% gain | 3,315 | 22.7% |
| 100%+ gain | 5,133 | 35.1% |
Holding period vs value change
(4,184 properties)
(3,810 properties)
Value trajectory by case type
| Case type | Filings | Median change | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probate | 6,112 | +88.3% | 16.1% |
| Lien | 5,705 | +50.6% | 18.0% |
| Pre-Foreclosure | 1,476 | +80.7% | 11.0% |
| Divorce | 781 | +42.5% | 23.3% |
| Guardianship | 354 | +54.9% | 26.0% |
| Other | 65 | +77.8% | 4.6% |
| Eviction | 40 | +25.8% | 32.5% |
| Partition | 24 | +52.8% | 8.3% |
| Personal Property | 19 | +40.2% | 26.3% |
| Child Support | 12 | +17.6% | 16.7% |
Analysis of 14,621 North Carolina properties (6.5% of filings) with both prior sale price and current assessed value data. Underwater properties have a current assessed value below their last purchase price. This analysis reveals whether distressed properties carry equity upside (investor opportunity) or are overleveraged (indicating deeper distress).
FEMA flood zone exposure across North Carolina
Are distressed properties concentrated in flood-prone areas? By checking each property's coordinates against FEMA's National Flood Hazard Layer, we identify which filings fall in Special Flood Hazard Areas (mandatory flood insurance zones). This analysis covers 2110 properties with geocoded locations.
| Flood zone | Properties | % of checked |
|---|---|---|
| X | 2057 | 97.5% |
| AE | 41 | 1.9% |
| X-500yr | 11 | 0.5% |
Source: FEMA National Flood Hazard Layer (NFHL), queried by property coordinates. Zones A/AE/AH/AO/V/VE are Special Flood Hazard Areas (1% annual flood chance, mandatory flood insurance). Zone X is minimal risk. 2110 properties checked.
Methodology and data sources
- Court filings sourced direct from county court dockets in Keystone's North Carolina coverage area via daily automated collection. Court records are public information.
- Every filing is as recorded on the county docket. Entity-owned filings (LLCs, trusts, banks) and stale-owner filings are excluded.
- Property value figures come from third-party enrichment (17% coverage on this dataset).
- Individual case data, defendant names, and property addresses are not published. Reports show aggregated statistics only.
- See /reports/methodology for full data sources, sample sizes, and limitations.
- This report was generated 2026-09-28 from the live database.
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Cite: Keystone Court Data, "North Carolina Court Filings Intelligence," 2026-09-28, https://keystonecourtdata.com/reports/nc-court-filings-intelligence · Download data (CSV)