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Pennsylvania Court Filings Intelligence

Live court-record analysis spanning property-related filings (foreclosure, probate, divorce, partition, guardianship) across Pennsylvania. Data sourced direct from county court dockets in our coverage area. Updated 2026-07-18. See methodology.

Data current as of 2026-07-18 · refreshes nightly
Investor takeaway

At a glance

36572 verified property-related court filings tracked across 23 Pennsylvania counties since Jul 2020.

477 typical monthly statewide filing volume.

3% of filings involve owners whose mailing address differs from the property address (1176 filings).

$115,806 median estimated property value across the 6640 filings with property-enrichment data (18% coverage).

3.9% Pennsylvania unemployment rate (BLS, as of 2026-05). Filings should be read against the local-economy backdrop.

Filing type breakdown

Filing typeFilingsShare
Other 22260 60.9%
Partition 6819 18.6%
Pre-Foreclosure 3075 8.4%
Tax Lien 2533 6.9%
Divorce 845 2.3%
Inherited Property 443 1.2%
Tired Landlord 173 0.5%
Stalled Project 146 0.4%
Pre-Probate 123 0.3%
Foreclosure (Post-Filing) 59 0.2%
Quiet Title 39 0.1%
Forced Liquidation 20 0.1%
Tax Sale 19 0.1%
Real Estate Dispute 10 0.0%
Estate 6 0.0%
Probate 2 0.0%

Each row is a distinct case verified for current owner-of-record before inclusion.

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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
Municipal Lien 11905 32.6% -52.1%
Commonwealth Lien 7418 20.3% -5.4%
Equity Division Sale 6559 17.9% +668.7%
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 2757 7.5% +684.4%
School Tax Lien 2476 6.8% +12.7%
Fc Complaint In Divorce. 542 1.5% -55.6%
Waiver Of Mechanic'S Lien 524 1.4% +13.0%
Pre-Foreclosure 315 0.9% +1692.9%
Mechanics Lien Claim 313 0.9% +60.0%
Inherited Property 278 0.8% +91.3%
Partition 254 0.7% +433.3%
Fc Petition For Custody Of Minor Child. 228 0.6% -21.1%
Complaint 223 0.6% --
Tired Landlord 171 0.5% +430.8%
Divorce 164 0.4% +933.3%
Distressed Heir 163 0.4% --
Order For Judgment Entered In Favor Of Bucks County Clerk Of Courts Pursuant To 42 Pa.C.S. Sec. 9728 In The Amount Of $ 159 0.4% --
Stalled Project 146 0.4% +300.0%
Complaint Civil Action 139 0.4% --
Pre-Probate 122 0.3% +1020.0%
Judgment Costs Fines 97 0.3% --
Municipal Lien Govt 80 0.2% --
Civil: Contractdebt Collection: Credit Card 61 0.2% --
Certification Of Judgment From District Justice Of The Peace. Assumpsit Eo Die Judgment Entered In The Sum Of $ 55 0.2% --
Clerk Of Courts Judgment 49 0.1% --
Suggestion Of Non Payment And Averment Of Default In The Amount Of 47 0.1% -77.3%
Divorce Complaint 46 0.1% --
Default Judgment 46 0.1% --
Writ Of Scire Facias Sur Lien 35 0.1% --
Fc Claim For Equitable Distribution Filed With Complaint In Divorce 35 0.1% -57.1%
Complaint In Trespass Asbestos 35 0.1% --
Order For Temporary Assignment Of District Justice Of The Peace 34 0.1% --
Irs Federal Lien 34 0.1% --
Title Clearance Play 33 0.1% +175.0%
Civil: Contractdebt Collection: Other 33 0.1% --
Judgment From District Justice 32 0.1% --
Praecipe For Judgment On Final Bill 29 0.1% --
Federal Tax Lien Filed Wire Transfer 28 0.1% --
Complaint Divorce 27 0.1% --
Complaint In Mortgage Foreclosure 24 0.1% --
Civil: Contract 23 0.1% --
Contract 23 0.1% --
Custody Complaint 21 0.1% --
Forced Liquidation 20 0.1% --
Civil: Real Propertymortgage Foreclosure: Residential 19 0.1% --
Writ Of Summons 18 0.0% --
Judgment 18 0.0% --
Debt Collection: Credit Card 17 0.0% --
Civil: Tortmotor Vehicle 17 0.0% --
Debt Collection: Other 16 0.0% --
Motor Vehicle 16 0.0% --
Certification Of Judgment From Another Court Filed. Assumpsit. Judgment Entered In The Sum Of $ 16 0.0% --
Commonwealth Tax Lien 16 0.0% --
Mortgage Foreclosure: Residential 15 0.0% --
Appeal From Suspension Of Operator'S License 15 0.0% --
Mdj Judgment 15 0.0% --
Petition For Change Of Name 15 0.0% --
Fc Transfer Of Action From Another Court Custody. 14 0.0% --
Commonwealth Of Pa 14 0.0% --
Tax Sale Rescue 13 0.0% --
Custody / Partial Custody / Shared Custody / Visitation 13 0.0% --
Certified Lien 13 0.0% --
No Fault Only 12 0.0% --
Federal Tax Lien 12 0.0% --
Writ Of Execution/Garnishee 11 0.0% --
Mdj Transfer 10 0.0% --
Tort 10 0.0% --
Ejectment 9 0.0% --
Notice Of Appeal From District Justice Of The Peace Filed. Assumpsit Action. 9 0.0% --
Miscellaneous 9 0.0% --
Real Property 9 0.0% --
Complaint For Custody/Visitation 9 0.0% --
Complaint Contract Debt Collection: Credit Card Money Damages 8 0.0% --
Civil Appeal 8 0.0% --
Landlord/Tenant Dispute 7 0.0% --
Fc Complaint To Establish Paternity And For Genetic Testing 7 0.0% --
Appeal From District Justice By Plaintiffs 7 0.0% --
District Justice Transcript Judgment 7 0.0% --
Petition 7 0.0% --
Abuse 7 0.0% --
Tax Distress 6 0.0% --
Petition For Leave To Take An Appeal Nunc Pro Tunc 6 0.0% --
Writ Of Execution 6 0.0% --
Civil: Real Property 6 0.0% --
Custody 6 0.0% --
Notice Of Lien Filed Under Commercial Real Estate Broker Lien Act. 6 0.0% --
Change Of Name 5 0.0% --
Complaint In Confession Of Judgment For Money 5 0.0% --
Appeal From District Justice By Defendants With Rule To File Complaint 5 0.0% --
Fc Petition For Counsel Fees And Costs. 5 0.0% --
Civil: Appeals Mdjjudicial: Mdj (Money Judgment) 5 0.0% --
Judgment/Possession 5 0.0% --
Contract: Other 5 0.0% --
Summons Civil Action 5 0.0% --
Appeal From Suspension/Registration/Inspection Station 5 0.0% --
Judgment: Transcript (District Justice) 5 0.0% --
Case Moved 5 0.0% --

Trend = recent 2-3 month volume vs prior 2-3 months (current partial month excluded). Positive = accelerating; negative = cooling.

Lender concentration analysis

Foreclosure activity is spread across many lenders, suggesting diverse distress sources rather than a single institutional wave.

483
HHI score
Competitive
Market type
27.4%
Top 3 share
Lender / Plaintiff Filings Share
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION 209 11.1%
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES LLC 163 8.7%
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING LLC 143 7.6%
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY 118 6.3%
NEWREZ LLC 108 5.7%

HHI (Herfindahl-Hirschman Index): <1500 = competitive, 1500-2500 = moderate concentration, >2500 = highly concentrated. Based on 1883 foreclosure filings with identified plaintiffs.

Seasonal filing patterns

Court filings peak in Jun and are lowest in Jan. The 3.9x peak-to-trough ratio suggests strong seasonal patterns — investors who time their outreach around Jun can reach more distressed homeowners.

Month Avg filings Relative
Jan 204
26%
Feb 427.8
54%
Mar 783
99%
Apr 342.2
43%
May 602.7
76%
Jun 793.8
100%
Jul 250.2
32%
Aug 533
67%
Sep 500.3
63%
Oct 307.5
39%
Nov 416.3
52%
Dec 557.8
70%

Average filings per calendar month across all observed years. Relative column shows each month as a percentage of the peak month (Jun), with a 3.9x peak-to-trough ratio.

ZIP code distress hotspots

Distress is geographically dispersed across 494 ZIP codes, with no single area dominating.

ZIP Area Filings Share Median value
16001 Butler 498 1.4% $37,290
17701 Williamsport 229 0.6% $81,785
16066 Cranberry Township 213 0.6% $35,190
17403 York 176 0.5% $117,250
17402 York 163 0.4% $171,145
17404 York 155 0.4% $106,185
17401 York 145 0.4% $106,085
17112 Lower Paxton Township 134 0.4% $124,550
16002 Butler 131 0.4% $36,990
17331 Hanover 114 0.3% $131,210

Top 10 of 494 ZIP codes with filings.

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Non-resident owner analysis

Most filings (97%) involve owner-occupied properties. The relatively low absentee rate suggests distress is primarily hitting homeowners, not institutional investors.

3.2%
Non-resident owners
Case type Total filings Non-resident %
Municipal Lien 11905 0.0%
Commonwealth Lien 7418 0.0%
Equity Division Sale 6563 8.6%
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 2760 8.6%
School Tax Lien 2476 1.2%
Fc Complaint In Divorce. 542 1.7%
Waiver Of Mechanic'S Lien 524 0.0%
Pre-Foreclosure 315 27.0%
Mechanics Lien Claim 313 0.3%
Inherited Property 280 3.2%
Partition 255 24.3%
Fc Petition For Custody Of Minor Child. 228 0.0%
Complaint 223 0.0%
Tired Landlord 173 1.2%
Divorce 164 26.2%
Distressed Heir 163 1.2%
Order For Judgment Entered In Favor Of Bucks County Clerk Of Courts Pursuant To 42 Pa.C.S. Sec. 9728 In The Amount Of $ 159 0.0%
Stalled Project 146 13.0%
Complaint Civil Action 139 0.0%
Pre-Probate 123 86.2%
Judgment Costs Fines 97 0.0%
Municipal Lien Govt 80 0.0%
Civil: Contractdebt Collection: Credit Card 61 0.0%
Certification Of Judgment From District Justice Of The Peace. Assumpsit Eo Die Judgment Entered In The Sum Of $ 55 0.0%
Clerk Of Courts Judgment 49 0.0%
Suggestion Of Non Payment And Averment Of Default In The Amount Of 47 0.0%
Divorce Complaint 46 0.0%
Default Judgment 46 0.0%
Writ Of Scire Facias Sur Lien 35 0.0%
Fc Claim For Equitable Distribution Filed With Complaint In Divorce 35 0.0%
Complaint In Trespass Asbestos 35 0.0%
Order For Temporary Assignment Of District Justice Of The Peace 34 0.0%
Irs Federal Lien 34 0.0%
Title Clearance Play 33 3.0%
Civil: Contractdebt Collection: Other 33 0.0%
Judgment From District Justice 32 0.0%
Praecipe For Judgment On Final Bill 29 0.0%
Federal Tax Lien Filed Wire Transfer 28 0.0%
Complaint Divorce 27 0.0%
Complaint In Mortgage Foreclosure 24 4.2%
Civil: Contract 23 0.0%
Contract 23 0.0%
Custody Complaint 21 0.0%
Forced Liquidation 20 0.0%
Civil: Real Propertymortgage Foreclosure: Residential 19 0.0%
Writ Of Summons 18 0.0%
Judgment 18 0.0%
Debt Collection: Credit Card 17 0.0%
Civil: Tortmotor Vehicle 17 0.0%
Debt Collection: Other 16 0.0%
Motor Vehicle 16 0.0%
Certification Of Judgment From Another Court Filed. Assumpsit. Judgment Entered In The Sum Of $ 16 0.0%
Commonwealth Tax Lien 16 0.0%
Mortgage Foreclosure: Residential 15 0.0%
Appeal From Suspension Of Operator'S License 15 0.0%
Mdj Judgment 15 0.0%
Petition For Change Of Name 15 0.0%
Fc Transfer Of Action From Another Court Custody. 14 0.0%
Commonwealth Of Pa 14 0.0%
Tax Sale Rescue 13 15.4%
Custody / Partial Custody / Shared Custody / Visitation 13 0.0%
Certified Lien 13 0.0%
No Fault Only 12 0.0%
Federal Tax Lien 12 0.0%
Writ Of Execution/Garnishee 11 0.0%
Mdj Transfer 10 0.0%
Tort 10 0.0%
Ejectment 9 0.0%
Notice Of Appeal From District Justice Of The Peace Filed. Assumpsit Action. 9 0.0%
Miscellaneous 9 0.0%
Real Property 9 0.0%
Complaint For Custody/Visitation 9 0.0%
Complaint Contract Debt Collection: Credit Card Money Damages 8 0.0%
Civil Appeal 8 0.0%
Landlord/Tenant Dispute 7 0.0%
Fc Complaint To Establish Paternity And For Genetic Testing 7 0.0%
Appeal From District Justice By Plaintiffs 7 0.0%
District Justice Transcript Judgment 7 0.0%
Petition 7 0.0%
Abuse 7 0.0%
Tax Distress 6 16.7%
Petition For Leave To Take An Appeal Nunc Pro Tunc 6 0.0%
Writ Of Execution 6 0.0%
Civil: Real Property 6 0.0%
Custody 6 0.0%
Notice Of Lien Filed Under Commercial Real Estate Broker Lien Act. 6 0.0%
Change Of Name 5 0.0%
Complaint In Confession Of Judgment For Money 5 0.0%
Appeal From District Justice By Defendants With Rule To File Complaint 5 0.0%
Fc Petition For Counsel Fees And Costs. 5 0.0%
Civil: Appeals Mdjjudicial: Mdj (Money Judgment) 5 0.0%
Judgment/Possession 5 0.0%
Contract: Other 5 0.0%
Summons Civil Action 5 0.0%
Appeal From Suspension/Registration/Inspection Station 5 0.0%
Judgment: Transcript (District Justice) 5 0.0%
Case Moved 5 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

Equity Division Sale, High Urgency Pre Foreclosure share is rising. Commonwealth Lien, Municipal Lien share is declining. High diversity in distress types suggests multiple independent factors driving court filings, not a single economic shock.

Case type Recent share Earlier share Shift
Equity Division Sale 32.8% 17.5% +15.3pp (rising)
Commonwealth Lien 14.5% 22.2% -7.7pp (falling)
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 13.8% 7.4% +6.4pp (rising)
Municipal Lien 9.4% 36.7% -27.3pp (falling)
Pre-Foreclosure 6.5% 0.3% +6.2pp (rising)
Inherited Property 6.1% 0.3% +5.8pp (rising)
School Tax Lien 4.4% 7.3% -2.9pp
Divorce 3.0% 0.2% +2.8pp
Tired Landlord 2.7% 0.3% +2.4pp
Pre-Probate 2.5% 0.2% +2.3pp
Stalled Project 0.7% 0.4% +0.3pp
Distressed Heir 0.7% 0.5% +0.2pp
Partition 0.6% 0.7% -0.1pp
Title Clearance Play 0.5% 0.1% +0.4pp
Waiver Of Mechanic'S Lien 0.4% 1.6% -1.2pp
Mechanics Lien Claim 0.4% 0.9% -0.5pp
Tax Sale Rescue 0.4% 0.0% +0.4pp
Forced Liquidation 0.3% 0.0% +0.3pp
Confirmed Asset Sale 0.1% 0.0% +0.1pp
Probate 0.1% 0.0% +0.1pp
Clerk Of Courts Judgment 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Writ Of Summons 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Commonwealth Tax Lien 0.0% 0.1% -0.1pp
District Justice Transcript Judgment 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Fc Registration Of Foreign Divorce Decree. 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Judgment Confession 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Writ Of Execution/Garnishee 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Miscellaneousreplevin 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Real Propertyquiet Title 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Real Propertyejectment 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Custody Complaint 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Writ Of Execution 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Professional Liabilitydental 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Judgment 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Divorce Complaint 0.0% 0.1% -0.1pp
Civil: Contractdebt Collection: Other 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Default Judgment 0.0% 0.1% -0.1pp
Fc Claim For Special Relief Filed With Complaint In Divorce 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Suggestion Of Non Payment And Averment Of Default In The Amount Of 0.0% 0.1% -0.1pp
Judgment Consent 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Fc Transfer Of Action From Another Court Custody. 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Judgment/Possession 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Criminal 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Writ Of Possession 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Quiet Title 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Tortmotor Vehicle 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Tortother 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Complaint In Mortgage Foreclosure 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Fc Petition For Custody Of Minor Child. 0.0% 0.7% -0.7pp
Complaint In Trespass Asbestos 0.0% 0.1% -0.1pp
Fc Complaint In Divorce. 0.0% 1.6% -1.6pp
Exemplification Of Judgment Coming In 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Fc Petition For Alimony. 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Fc Registration Of Foreign Custody Decree. 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Notice Of Lien Filed Under Commercial Real Estate Broker Lien Act. 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Fc Petition For Counsel Fees And Costs. 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Tax Distress 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Appeals Mdjjudicial: Mdj (Money Judgment) 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Fc Claim For Equitable Distribution Filed With Complaint In Divorce 0.0% 0.1% -0.1pp
Civil: Tortpremises Liability 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Judgment: Non Pros 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Petition 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Real Propertymortgage Foreclosure: Residential 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Case Moved 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Fc Complaint To Establish Paternity And For Genetic Testing 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Complaint 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Contractdebt Collection: Credit Card 0.0% 0.1% -0.1pp
Fc Claim For Custody Of Minor Child Filed With Complaint In Divorce 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Civil: Contractother 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Writ Of Scire Facias Sur Lien 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp
Certification Of Judgment From District Justice Of The Peace. Assumpsit Eo Die Judgment Entered In The Sum Of $ 0.0% 0.0% +0.0pp

Distress diversity score: 3.1 (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 Pennsylvania counties tracked →

CountyFilingsShareDeep dive
Bucks County 24535 67.1%
View report →
York County 3713 10.2%
View report →
Butler County 2493 6.8%
View report →
Dauphin County 1361 3.7%
View report →
Montgomery County 1162 3.2%
View report →
Lycoming County 1004 2.7%
View report →
Clearfield County 511 1.4%
View report →
Delaware County 436 1.2%
View report →
Cumberland County 244 0.7%
View report →
Northampton County 228 0.6%
View report →

County-by-county comparison dashboard

Across 18 counties with 10+ filings, Bucks County leads in filing volume (24535 filings, 67.1% of the state). Delaware County has the highest median property value ($297,903). Luzerne County has the highest absentee owner rate (27.0%).

County Filings Share Median value Absentee % Top case type Resolved % Avg events
Bucks County 24535 67.1%
$34,000 0.4% Municipal Lien (48.5%) 0.1% 3.2 Report →
York County 3713 10.2%
$115,670 3.6% Equity Division Sale (68.5%) 56.7% 15.0 Report →
Butler County 2493 6.8%
$19,250 18.5% Equity Division Sale (62.9%) 64.4% 18.2 Report →
Dauphin County 1361 3.7%
$103,100 2.1% Equity Division Sale (60.0%) 28.9% 12.6 Report →
Montgomery County 1162 3.2%
$167,060 16.8% Equity Division Sale (31.7%) 4.5% 5.4 Report →
Lycoming County 1004 2.7%
$85,580 3.2% Equity Division Sale (65.1%) 60.9% 12.9 Report →
Clearfield County 511 1.4%
$29,950 11.5% High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (62.6%) 40.0% 11.6 Report →
Delaware County 436 1.2%
$297,903 12.2% Equity Division Sale (22.2%) 0.0% Report →
Cumberland County 244 0.7%
$225,900 4.9% Judgment Costs Fines (39.8%) 4.3% 3.7 Report →
Northampton County 228 0.6%
$111,300 4.8% Equity Division Sale (60.1%) 0.4% 3.9 Report →
Lackawanna County 200 0.5%
$12,450 3.5% High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (57.5%) 34.0% 5.9 Report →
Monroe County 182 0.5%
$129,800 14.8% Equity Division Sale (29.7%) 0.0% Report →
Cambria County 155 0.4%
$17,500 10.3% Equity Division Sale (32.3%) 0.6% 2.2 Report →
Schuylkill County 137 0.4%
$121,700 11.7% Equity Division Sale (38.0%) 0.0% 3.2 Report →
Centre County 93 0.3%
$101,310 8.6% Equity Division Sale (57.0%) 1.1% 3.7 Report →
Jefferson County 51 0.1%
$62,090 15.7% Equity Division Sale (41.2%) 2.0% 4.8
Luzerne County 37 0.1%
$136,200 27.0% Inherited Property (43.2%) 0.0%
Columbia County 23 0.1%
13.0% Equity Division Sale (87.0%) 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

MonthFilingsvs prior
Jul 2020 160
Aug 2020 301 +141
Sep 2020 250 -51
Oct 2020 179 -71
Nov 2020 183 +4
Dec 2020 477 +294
Jan 2021 78 -399
Feb 2021 195 +117
Mar 2021 686 +491
Apr 2021 14 -672
May 2021 281 +267
Jun 2021 705 +424
Jul 2021 300 -405
Aug 2021 317 +17
Sep 2021 383 +66
Oct 2021 315 -68
Nov 2021 292 -23
Dec 2021 346 +54
Jan 2022 308 -38
Feb 2022 372 +64
Mar 2022 754 +382
Apr 2022 391 -363
May 2022 340 -51
Jun 2022 622 +282
Jul 2022 226 -396
Aug 2022 648 +422
Sep 2022 606 -42
Oct 2022 434 -172
Nov 2022 414 -20
Dec 2022 493 +79
Jan 2023 306 -187
Feb 2023 703 +397
Mar 2023 759 +56
Apr 2023 523 -236
May 2023 429 -94
Jun 2023 473 +44
Jul 2023 137 -336
Aug 2023 739 +602
Sep 2023 637 -102
Oct 2023 141 -496
Nov 2023 657 +516
Dec 2023 907 +250
Jan 2024 165 -742
Feb 2024 547 +382
Mar 2024 784 +237
Apr 2024 114 -670
May 2024 700 +586
Jun 2024 677 -23
Jul 2024 98 -579
Aug 2024 740 +642
Sep 2024 605 -135
Oct 2024 507 -98
Nov 2024 478 -29
Dec 2024 532 +54
Jan 2025 312 -220
Feb 2025 428 +116
Mar 2025 773 +345
Apr 2025 75 -698
May 2025 294 +219
Jun 2025 976 +682
Jul 2025 580 -396
Aug 2025 453 -127
Sep 2025 521 +68
Oct 2025 269 -252
Nov 2025 474 +205
Dec 2025 592 +118
Jan 2026 55 -537
Feb 2026 322 +267
Mar 2026 942 +620
Apr 2026 936 -6
May 2026 1572 +636
Jun 2026 1310 -262
Jul 2026 2247 +937

Most recent month may be partial.

Property value distribution

Estimated valueFilingsShare
Under $75k 1891 28.5%
$75k - $150k 2486 37.4%
$150k - $250k 1302 19.6%
$250k - $400k 599 9.0%
$400k+ 362 5.5%

Median: $115,806. Mean: $161,107. From third-party property enrichment.

Day-of-week filing pattern

DayFilingsShare
Sun 204 0.6%
Mon 6639 18.2%
Tue 8739 23.9%
Wed 7799 21.3%
Thu 7140 19.5%
Fri 5866 16.0%
Sat 172 0.5%

Filings cluster Monday through Friday, with weekend filings essentially absent (court system closed).

Case lifecycle (foreclosure)

Median time between key court-process milestones, computed from docket-entry timestamps on the 288 Pennsylvania cases with documented filing-event data:

MilestoneMedian daysSample size
Complaint filed → summons served11 days154 cases
Complaint filed → judgment42 days8 cases

Source: court docket entries. Only cases under active monitoring track through milestones. Cases without a documented filing or service event excluded.

Housing stock + distress signals (filing-weighted across 23 Pennsylvania counties)

Underlying housing stock and distress indicators across Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania (weighted) US average
Vacancy rate (incl. seasonal + for-sale)4.6%10.5%
Share of owner-occupied units carrying a mortgage63.8%60.8%
Pre-1940 housing stock13.3%12.3%
Single-family detached share63.6%61.2%
Residents age 65 or older19.7%17.3%

Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS 2023 5-year), filing-weighted across 23 Pennsylvania counties.

New construction across Pennsylvania (2025)

Total housing permits filed across the 23 Pennsylvania counties we track. Trend signal on whether new housing demand is accelerating or contracting state-wide.

Indicator Value
Total housing units permitted (2025)11,144
Year-over-year change (2024 → 2025)+4.7%
Single-family share of permits69.3%
Single-family units permitted7,727
Multifamily units permitted (2+ units per building)3,417

Source: US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, summed across 23 Pennsylvania counties.

Rent benchmark (Pennsylvania HUD Fair Market Rents, filing-weighted)

HUD Fair Market Rents averaged across 23 Pennsylvania counties (spanning 19 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$1,268
1-bedroom$1,390
2-bedroom$1,669
3-bedroom$2,043
4-bedroom$2,249

Source: US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents (2026), filing-weighted across 23 Pennsylvania counties.

Macro context: home prices and national delinquency

Court-filing volume should be read against the broader housing-market backdrop. Pennsylvania's home prices and the national mortgage-delinquency rate are the two macro signals most directly relevant to foreclosure exposure.

IndicatorValuePeriod
Pennsylvania home price index (year-over-year)+5.3%2026-01-01
Pennsylvania home price index (cumulative since 2020)+59.3%2026-01-01
National mortgage delinquency rate (30+ day, single-family)1.89%2026-01-01

Sources: Federal Housing Finance Agency state house price indices (FRED series PASTHPI); 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 Pennsylvania filings cluster, weighted by filing count and benchmarked against Census ACS 2023 5-year:

IndicatorFiling-weighted average
Median household income$68,962
Median home value$197,117
Owner-occupancy rate64.0%
Median gross rent$1,106/mo

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates, filing-weighted across 6 top ZIPs.

Most active foreclosure plaintiffs in Pennsylvania

Top mortgage holders and servicers named in Pennsylvania foreclosure complaints. Names are normalized to collapse common legal-suffix variants.

PlaintiffForeclosure filings
FREEDOM MORTGAGE CORPORATION 209
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES LLC 123
PENNSYLVANIA HOUSING FINANCE AGENCY 118
LAKEVIEW LOAN SERVICING LLC 116
NEWREZ LLC 108
U.S. BANK TRUST N.A 85
MIDFIRST BANK 85
WELLS FARGO BANK NA 73
ROCKET MORTGAGE LLC 59
U.S. BANK N.A 57

Source: plaintiff names extracted from Pennsylvania foreclosure complaint text. Court records are public information.

Post-filing sale outcomes in Pennsylvania

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 8910 filings (24.4% of all 36569 filings) where parcel-level tracking is available.

0.6%
of all filings had a confirmed post-filing sale (floor)
251
median days from filing to sale
$168,000
median post-filing sale price
2.38x
sale price vs. assessed value

Time from filing to sale

How quickly do distressed properties sell after a court filing is recorded? This distribution shows where post-filing sales cluster.

Timeframe Sales Share
Under 30 days 14 5.9%
31–90 days 35 14.8%
91–180 days 39 16.5%
181–365 days 56 23.7%
Over 1 year 92 39.0%

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
High Urgency Pre-Foreclosure 2999 115 3.8%
Distressed Heir 165 5 3.0%
Partition 213 6 2.8%
Equity Division Sale 6698 104 1.6%
Stalled Project 148 2 1.4%

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. 66.5% of confirmed sales were directly driven by the filing.

Attribution Meaning Sales Share
Filing-driven Sale occurred as a direct result of the court filing (e.g., foreclosure auction, probate liquidation) 157 66.5%
Concurrent Sale recorded around the same time as the filing — likely related but not proven causal 35 14.8%
Deferred Sale happened well after the filing (over 1 year) — weaker filing connection 30 12.7%
Pre-existing Property was already in a sales process before the court filing was recorded 14 5.9%

Source: county assessor and deed-transfer records cross-referenced with court filings by parcel ID. Sale outcomes tracked for 8910 of 36569 filings (24.4% parcel coverage). Timing based on 236 sales with valid filing and sale dates. Prices based on 235 sales with recorded sale amounts.

Case Outcomes & Resolution Timeline

14.0% of tracked cases have reached a resolution, with a median time of 133 days from filing to resolution. The most common resolution is judgment entered (4165 cases, 82% of resolved).

4165
Judgment entered
11.5% of 36260 tracked
6
Default judgment
0.0% of 36260 tracked
15
Dismissed
0.0% of 36260 tracked
55
Discontinued (loan cured)
0.2% of 36260 tracked
432
Settled / agreed resolution
1.2% of 36260 tracked
400
Sheriff sale
1.1% of 36260 tracked
133
Median days to resolution
56–359
25th–75th percentile (days)
5073
Cases resolved
Resolution Type Median Days Cases
Judgment 158 455
Dismissal 47 4
Settlement 120 82
Sheriff sale 393 52
Detailed disposition breakdown
Disposition Count % of Resolved
Final Judgment 4164 82.1%
Settlement 432 8.5%
Sheriff Sale 397 7.8%
Voluntary Discontinuance 53 1.0%
Court Dismissed 15 0.3%
Default Judgment 6 0.1%
Sale Completed 3 0.1%
Discontinued Without Prejudice 2 0.0%

Outcomes by Case Type

Case Type Cases Resolved Resolution Rate Median Days
Municipal Lien 11905 0 0.0%
Commonwealth Lien 7418 0 0.0%
Equity Division Sale 6647 3511 52.8% 130
High Urgency Pre-Foreclosure 2918 1358 46.5% 241
School Tax Lien 2507 1 0.0%
Fc- Complaint In Divorce. 542 0 0.0%
Waiver Of Mechanic'S Lien 524 0 0.0%
Mechanics Lien Claim 314 0 0.0%
Inherited Property 292 0 0.0%
Fc- Petition For Custody Of Minor Child. 228 0 0.0%
Complaint 217 0 0.0%
Partition 213 43 20.2% 232
Tired Landlord 174 32 18.4% 51
Distressed Heir 165 94 57.0% 161
Order For Judgment Entered In Favor Of Bucks County Clerk Of Courts Pursuant To 42 Pa.C.S. Sec. 9728 In The Amount Of $ 159 0 0.0%
Stalled Project 146 20 13.7% 28
Complaint Civil Action 139 0 0.0%
Judgment - Costs Fines 95 0 0.0%
Municipal Lien Govt 80 0 0.0%
Civil: Contractdebt Collection: Credit Card 61 0 0.0%
Certification Of Judgment From District Justice Of The Peace. Assumpsit Eo Die Judgment Entered In The Sum Of $ 55 0 0.0%
Clerk Of Courts Judgment 49 0 0.0%
Suggestion Of Non Payment And Averment Of Default In The Amount Of 47 0 0.0%
Divorce Complaint 46 0 0.0%
Default Judgment 46 0 0.0%
Writ Of Scire Facias Sur Lien 35 0 0.0%
Fc- Claim For Equitable Distribution Filed With Complaint In Divorce 35 0 0.0%
Complaint In Trespass - Asbestos - 35 0 0.0%
Title Clearance Play 34 8 23.5% 64
Order For Temporary Assignment Of District Justice Of The Peace 34 0 0.0%
Irs Federal Lien 34 0 0.0%
Complaint In Mortgage Foreclosure 33 0 0.0%
Civil: Contractdebt Collection: Other 33 0 0.0%
Judgment From District Justice 32 0 0.0%
Praecipe For Judgment On Final Bill 29 0 0.0%
Federal Tax Lien Filed - Wire Transfer 28 0 0.0%
Tax Sale Rescue 27 0 0.0%
Complaint Divorce 27 0 0.0%
Civil: Contract 23 0 0.0%
Contract 23 0 0.0%
Forced Liquidation 22 0 0.0%
Custody Complaint 21 0 0.0%
Civil: Real Propertymortgage Foreclosure: Residential 19 0 0.0%
Judgment 18 0 0.0%
Divorce 18 0 0.0%
Debt Collection: Credit Card 17 0 0.0%
Writ Of Summons 17 0 0.0%
Civil: Tortmotor Vehicle 17 0 0.0%
Tax Distress 16 0 0.0%
Debt Collection: Other 16 0 0.0%
Motor Vehicle 16 0 0.0%
Certification Of Judgment From Another Court Filed. Assumpsit. Judgment Entered In The Sum Of $ 16 0 0.0%
Commonwealth Tax Lien 16 0 0.0%
Petition For Change Of Name 15 0 0.0%
Mortgage Foreclosure: Residential 15 0 0.0%
Appeal From Suspension Of Operator'S License 15 0 0.0%
Mdj Judgment 15 0 0.0%
Fc- Transfer Of Action From Another Court- Custody. 14 0 0.0%
Commonwealth Of Pa 14 0 0.0%
Custody / Partial Custody / Shared Custody / Visitation 13 0 0.0%
Certified Lien 13 0 0.0%
No Fault Only 12 0 0.0%
Federal Tax Lien 12 0 0.0%
Writ Of Execution/Garnishee 11 0 0.0%
Mdj Transfer 10 0 0.0%
Tort 10 0 0.0%
Ejectment 9 0 0.0%
Notice Of Appeal From District Justice Of The Peace Filed. Assumpsit Action. 9 0 0.0%
Miscellaneous 9 0 0.0%
Real Property 9 0 0.0%
Complaint For Custody/Visitation 9 0 0.0%
Civil Appeal 8 0 0.0%
Complaint Contract Debt Collection: Credit Card Money Damages 7 0 0.0%
Landlord/Tenant Dispute 7 0 0.0%
Fc- Complaint To Establish Paternity And For Genetic Testing 7 0 0.0%
Appeal From District Justice By Plaintiffs 7 0 0.0%
District Justice Transcript Judgment 7 0 0.0%
Petition 7 0 0.0%
Abuse 7 0 0.0%
Real Estate Dispute 6 6 100.0% 0
Petition For Leave To Take An Appeal Nunc Pro Tunc 6 0 0.0%
Writ Of Execution 6 0 0.0%
Civil: Real Property 6 0 0.0%
Custody 6 0 0.0%
Notice Of Lien Filed Under Commercial Real Estate Broker Lien Act. 6 0 0.0%
Change Of Name 5 0 0.0%
Complaint In Confession Of Judgment For Money 5 0 0.0%
Appeal From District Justice By Defendants With Rule To File Complaint 5 0 0.0%
Fc- Petition For Counsel Fees And Costs. 5 0 0.0%
Civil: Appeals - Mdjjudicial: Mdj (Money Judgment) 5 0 0.0%
Judgment/Possession 5 0 0.0%
Contract: Other 5 0 0.0%
Summons Civil Action 5 0 0.0%
Appeal From Suspension/Registration/Inspection Station 5 0 0.0%
Judgment: Transcript (District Justice) 5 0 0.0%
Case Moved 5 0 0.0%

Based on 36260 of 36572 Pennsylvania court filings with active docket monitoring (99%). Based on a robust sample; percentages are reliable. Outcomes derived from docket entries (judgments, dismissals, sheriff sales, and settlement agreements). 31187 cases are still active or pending resolution.

Property Value Profile

The median assessed value of properties in court filings is $86,190. Divorce filings involve the highest-value properties (median $403,689), while Title Clearance Play filings trend lower (median $21,000). The largest segment (55.5%) falls in the Under $100K range.

$86,190
Median assessed value
$127,709
Average assessed value
8722
Properties with values
Value range Properties Share
Under $100K 4844 55.5%
$100K - $250K 2916 33.4%
$250K - $500K 720 8.3%
$500K - $1M 184 2.1%
Over $1M 58 0.7%
Value breakdown by case type
Case type Median value Avg value Properties
Equity Division Sale $77,700 $106,393 5075
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure $84,380 $102,561 2239
Pre-Foreclosure $321,923 $397,353 287
Inherited Property $119,600 $172,453 258
Partition $75,090 $161,705 183
Tired Landlord $85,110 $162,140 143
Divorce $403,689 $457,195 129
Stalled Project $84,450 $290,406 114
Distressed Heir $70,040 $103,480 103
School Tax Lien $35,040 $40,607 62
Pre-Probate $263,425 $316,112 54
Title Clearance Play $21,000 $118,191 24
Forced Liquidation $127,080 $111,629 15
Tax Sale Rescue $181,480 $303,795 12
Mechanics Lien Claim $30,840 $46,114 7
Tax Distress $48,800 $67,057 6

Based on county assessor records for 8722 properties with court filings (23.8% of total filings) across Pennsylvania. Values are tax-assessed amounts, not market listing prices.

Investment Opportunity Score by ZIP Code

Across 263 ZIP codes with sufficient court filing data, ZIP 16001 (Whitestown Township) ranks highest with an investment opportunity score of 72/100, driven by high filing volume (498 cases). 106 of 263 scored ZIPs are above the average score of 31.

72/100
Highest ZIP score
263
ZIPs scored
31
Average score
Rank ZIP Code Area Score Filings Avg Value Absentee %
#1 16001 Whitestown Township
72
498 0%
#2 17701 Williamsport
56
229 0%
#3 17404 York
49
155 0%
#4 16066 Cranberry Twp
48
213 0%
#5 17331 Hanover
46
114 0%
#6 17402 York
46
163 0%
#7 17403 York
46
176 0%
#8 17401 York
45
145 0%
#9 16830 Clearfield
44
79 0%
#10 17112 Harrisburg
44
134 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 36572 court filings across 263 ZIP codes in Pennsylvania. ZIPs with fewer than 3 filings are excluded. Property values from county assessor records. Absentee status from property ownership verification.

Distress Capital Analysis

$1,113,877,820 in assessed property value is currently tied up in 8722 court-filed properties. 84% of properties with equity data carry 20%+ equity, signaling owners with real financial stakes in resolution. Equity Division Sale filings represent the largest capital pool ($539,942,823 across 5075 properties).

$1,114M
Total Value at Risk
8722
Properties Valued
$86,190
Median Value

Equity Position of Distressed Properties

High (20%+)
223 (83.8%)
Moderate (1-20%)
35 (13.2%)
Low/Underwater (≤0%)
8 (3.0%)

Median equity position: 49.2% · Based on 266 properties with equity data

Capital at Risk by Filing Type

Filing Type Total Value Properties Avg Value High Equity %
Equity Division Sale
$539,942,823
5075 $106,393 --
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure
$229,633,418
2239 $102,561 --
Pre-Foreclosure
$114,040,289
287 $397,353 81.1%
Divorce
$58,978,119
129 $457,195 90.7%
Inherited Property
$44,492,760
258 $172,453 --
Stalled Project
$33,106,313
114 $290,406 --
Partition
$29,591,969
183 $161,705 66.7%
Tired Landlord
$23,186,033
143 $162,140 --
Pre-Probate
$17,070,071
54 $316,112 83.3%
Distressed Heir
$10,658,431
103 $103,480 --
Tax Sale Rescue
$3,645,540
12 $303,795 --
Title Clearance Play
$2,836,595
24 $118,191 --
School Tax Lien
$2,517,610
62 $40,607 --
Forced Liquidation
$1,674,430
15 $111,629 --
Quiet Title
$949,685
3 $316,562 --
Tax Distress
$402,340
6 $67,057 --
Mechanics Lien Claim
$322,800
7 $46,114 --
Confirmed Asset Sale
$72,980
3 $24,327 --
High-Equity Distressed Properties
223 properties with 20%+ equity totaling $100,287,275 in assessed value (2.6% of all valued filings). Average property value: $449,719. These represent the highest-value investor targets — owners with real money at stake who are most likely to negotiate.

Based on 8722 properties with assessor valuations (23.8% of 36572 total filings) across Pennsylvania. Values are county assessor estimates. Equity calculated from estimated value vs outstanding mortgage balance where available.

Property Type Distribution

74.7% of distressed properties are classified as Residential, followed by Agricultural (11.0%). Notably, School Tax Lien filings skew toward Agricultural (97.4%).

Residential
Most common (74.7%)
7,207
Properties classified
6
Property categories
Property type Count Share Distribution
Residential 5,386 74.7%
Agricultural 793 11.0%
Single Family 667 9.3%
Commercial 265 3.7%
Vacant Land 86 1.2%
Industrial 10 0.1%
Property type by case type
Case type Dominant property type Share Properties
Equity Division Sale Residential 77.7% 4,518
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure Residential 74.4% 1,962
Inherited Property Residential 63.1% 236
Partition Residential 74.1% 112
Distressed Heir Residential 82.2% 90
Stalled Project Residential 69.8% 86
School Tax Lien Agricultural 97.4% 76
Tired Landlord Residential 53.8% 52
Tax Distress Agricultural 100.0% 13
Forced Liquidation Residential 63.6% 11
Complaint In Mortgage Foreclosure Agricultural 100.0% 10
Complaint Agricultural 100.0% 8
Real Estate Dispute Single Family 57.1% 7
Mechanics Lien Claim Agricultural 100.0% 7
Title Clearance Play Residential 40.0% 5
Tax Sale Rescue Residential 100.0% 5

Property classifications from county assessor records for 7,207 properties (19.7% of total filings across Pennsylvania). Categories normalized from assessor codes.

Case Aging & Stall Analysis

22,126 cases (60.6%) have been active for over a year without resolution. Stalled Project cases resolve fastest (median 22 days), while High Urgency Pre Foreclosure cases take longest (median 237 days). 2,664 filings in the last <30 days represent fresh opportunities.

22,126
Cases stalled 1yr+
60.6%
of all filings
36,532
Total tracked
Age Total Resolved Still active Resolution rate
<30 days 2,664 5 2,659 0.2%
30-90 days 2,990 50 2,940 1.7%
3-6 months 1,673 119 1,554 7.1%
6-12 months 2,605 422 2,183 16.2%
1-2 years 6,077 1,061 5,016 17.5%
2+ years 20,523 3,413 17,110 16.6%
Resolution speed by case type
Case type Total Resolved Rate Median days
Municipal Lien 11,900 0 0.0%
Commonwealth Lien 7,416 0 0.0%
Equity Division Sale 6,688 3511 52.5% 132d
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 2,983 1356 45.5% 237d
School Tax Lien 2,507 1 0.0%
Fc Complaint In Divorce. 542 0 0.0%
Waiver Of Mechanic'S Lien 524 0 0.0%
Inherited Property 400 0 0.0%
Mechanics Lien Claim 313 0 0.0%
Fc Petition For Custody Of Minor Child. 228 0 0.0%

Case aging computed from filing date to present for unresolved cases across Pennsylvania. Resolution classified from court docket entries (judgments, settlements, dismissals, sheriff sales).

Property Age & Distress Profile

6,475 filings (17.7% of scope) have year-built data. Pre-1960 properties are most common (52%). Newer properties (2000+) average $220,787 — 2.2x the value of Pre-1960 stock ($99,289). 2000+ cases resolve fastest (median 169d) vs 1980–1999 (264d).

6,475
Properties with year built
17.7%
Coverage
Pre-1960
Most common era (52.4%)
Construction era Filings Share Avg value Median days
Pre-1960 3,396 52.4% $99,289 224d
1960–1979 992 15.3% $157,326 253d
1980–1999 1,150 17.8% $173,886 264d
2000+ 937 14.5% $220,787 169d

Value trend: 2000+ properties average $220,787 — 2.22x the value of Pre-1960 stock ($99,289).

Top case types by construction era
Pre-1960: Equity Division Sale (59.9%), High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (29.8%), Inherited Property (3.6%), Tired Landlord (2.0%)
1960–1979: Equity Division Sale (55.5%), High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (32.4%), Inherited Property (4.8%), Tired Landlord (1.8%)
1980–1999: Equity Division Sale (57.7%), High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (29.7%), Inherited Property (5.6%), Partition (2.3%)
2000+: Equity Division Sale (60.2%), High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (28.8%), Inherited Property (3.2%), Stalled Project (2.3%)

Construction year sourced from county tax assessor records across Pennsylvania. Value is assessed value from the most recent available tax assessment. Resolution timing based on court docket events.

Municipality filing concentration across Pennsylvania

Court filings in PA span 678 municipalities. York leads with 788 filings (12.1% of total), predominantly Equity Division Sale (50.5%). Distress is dispersed across many municipalities — the top 3 account for only 25% of filings.

678
Municipalities
24.7%
Top 3 share
Dispersed
Geographic spread
Municipality Filings Share Top case type
York 788 12.1% Equity Division Sale (50.5%)
Harrisburg 560 8.6% Equity Division Sale (58.0%)
Cranberry Township 260 4.0% Equity Division Sale (75.0%)
Butler Township 183 2.8% Equity Division Sale (60.7%)
Butler City 155 2.4% Equity Division Sale (47.7%)
Butler 134 2.1% Equity Division Sale (76.1%)
Hanover 113 1.7% High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (78.8%)
Adams Township 110 1.7% Equity Division Sale (68.2%)
Dover 87 1.3% High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (73.6%)
Dubois 86 1.3% High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (86.0%)
Clearfield 76 1.2% High Urgency Pre Foreclosure (82.9%)
Buffalo Township 67 1.0% Equity Division Sale (68.7%)
Center Township 55 0.8% Equity Division Sale (67.3%)
Jackson Township 50 0.8% Equity Division Sale (78.0%)
Penn Township 49 0.8% Equity Division Sale (59.2%)

Top 15 of 678 municipalities with court filings across Pennsylvania. Data from 6,511 filings (18% of total). Municipality names from county assessor records.

Property Value Distribution

The median property value in distressed filings is $67,000, with the largest concentration (43.9%) in the Under $50K range. Real Estate Dispute filings have the highest median value ($257,396) while Title Clearance Play filings are lowest ($18,000).

$67,000
Median value
$107,178
Average value
8,857
Properties valued
Price range Count Share Distribution
Under $50K 3,892 43.9%
$50K–$100K 1,498 16.9%
$100K–$150K 1,514 17.1%
$150K–$200K 862 9.7%
$200K–$300K 649 7.3%
$300K–$500K 321 3.6%
$500K+ 121 1.4%
Value by case type
Case type Median value Average value Properties
Equity Division Sale $67,900 $103,714 5,111
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure $67,540 $92,362 2,529
Inherited Property $100,800 $149,693 373
Partition $30,330 $100,154 166
Tired Landlord $55,160 $261,077 159
Stalled Project $68,250 $238,917 123
Distressed Heir $47,032 $91,326 112
School Tax Lien $33,030 $39,826 94

Assessed property values from county assessor records for 8,857 properties (24.2% of total filings) across Pennsylvania. Values reflect tax-assessed amounts, not market price.

Ownership Duration Before Filing

The median ownership duration before a court filing is 9.4 years, with 47.8% of owners holding the property 10+ years (a strong equity signal for investors). Inherited Property cases show the longest tenure (20.1 yr median) vs. Tax Sale Rescue (2.9 yr).

9.4 yr
Median tenure
12.7 yr
Average tenure
7,757
Properties tracked
Ownership period Count Share Distribution
Under 2 years 625 8.1%
2–5 years 1,595 20.6%
5–10 years 1,833 23.6%
10–20 years 1,890 24.4%
20+ years 1,814 23.4%
Tenure by case type
Case type Median tenure Average tenure Properties
Equity Division Sale 9.1 yr 12.4 yr 4,795
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 9.5 yr 12.4 yr 2,180
Inherited Property 20.1 yr 21.5 yr 244
Partition 7.6 yr 12.1 yr 155
Stalled Project 7.6 yr 11.5 yr 113
Distressed Heir 16.9 yr 17.3 yr 91
Tired Landlord 8.8 yr 14.1 yr 69
Real Estate Dispute 14.4 yr 16.9 yr 27

Duration calculated from last recorded property sale to court filing date for 7,757 properties (21.2% of total filings) across Pennsylvania. Longer ownership often correlates with higher equity.

Repeat litigation patterns across Pennsylvania

Of 27,843 unique property owners in court filings, 4,285 (15.4%) appear in multiple cases, including 1,812 with 3 or more filings. The most active repeat filer has 40 cases spanning 65 months. Writ Of Scire Facias Sur Lien cases have the highest repeat rate at 82.4%.

27,843
Unique owners
4,285
Repeat filers (2+ cases)
15.4%
Repeat rate
1,812
Serial filers (3+ cases)

Repeat rate by case type

Case type Repeat owners Total owners Repeat rate
Municipal Lien 2441 6929 35.2%
Equity Division Sale 107 6615 1.6%
Commonwealth Lien 1122 5836 19.2%
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 175 2825 6.2%
School Tax Lien 651 1612 40.4%
Fc Complaint In Divorce. 4 542 0.7%
Inherited Property 11 388 2.8%
Mechanics Lien Claim 35 295 11.9%

Analysis based on 27,843 unique owner names across Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania

Of 7,452 unique properties in court filings, 179 (2.4%) have multiple filings (averaging 21.4 filings per property). Average time between repeat filings: 2 months. Title Clearance Play properties have the highest repeat rate at 14.3%.

7,452
Unique properties
179
Repeat-filing properties
2.4%
Serial distress rate
2 mo
Avg time between filings

Serial distress rate by case type

Case type Serial properties Total properties Serial rate
Equity Division Sale 44 3746 1.2%
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 128 2563 5.0%
Inherited Property 6 398 1.5%
Partition 6 203 3.0%
Distressed Heir 7 123 5.7%
Stalled Project 5 105 4.8%
School Tax Lien 9 92 9.8%
Tax Sale Rescue 2 25 8.0%

Analysis based on 7,452 unique property addresses across Pennsylvania 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 7,989 properties with assessed value breakdowns, the median land share is 19.9% (median land value $16,200, median improvement value $61,100). 155 properties (1.9%) are land-dominant (50%+ land value) — potential teardown or vacant-lot targets. School Tax Lien cases skew most land-heavy (median 22.8%) while Real Estate Dispute skews most improvement-heavy (3.5%).

19.9%
Median land share
$16,200
Median land value
$61,100
Median improvement value
1.9%
Land-dominant (50%+)

Land share distribution

Land share bracket Properties % of total
Under 10% 1,585 19.8%
10–20% 2,432 30.4%
20–30% 2,674 33.5%
30–50% 1,143 14.3%
50–70% 113 1.4%
Over 70% 42 0.5%

Land share by case type

Case type Filings Median land %
Equity Division Sale 4,882 19.2%
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 2,181 21.2%
Inherited Property 284 19.5%
Partition 120 19.9%
Stalled Project 106 19.1%
Distressed Heir 97 20.9%
Tired Landlord 95 20.1%
School Tax Lien 84 22.8%
Real Estate Dispute 27 3.5%
Tax Sale Rescue 21 9.1%

Analysis of 7,989 Pennsylvania properties (21.9% 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 7,510 properties with purchase and assessed value data, the median value change since purchase is -25.3%. 4,865 properties (64.8%) are underwater (current assessed value below purchase price). Short-hold owners (<5 yr) show a median -44.8% value change vs -0.8% for long-hold (10+ yr). Forced Liquidation cases have the highest underwater rate (78.9%) while Real Estate Dispute has the lowest (13.0%).

-25.3%
Median value change
$124,900
Median purchase price
$76,095
Median assessed value
64.8%
Underwater properties

Value change distribution

Value change bracket Properties % of total
50%+ loss 2,478 33.0%
20–50% loss 1,562 20.8%
0–20% loss 825 11.0%
0–20% gain 386 5.1%
20–50% gain 248 3.3%
50–100% gain 180 2.4%
100%+ gain 1,831 24.4%

Holding period vs value change

-44.8%
Short hold (<5 yr) median change
(2,057 properties)
-0.8%
Long hold (10+ yr) median change
(3,076 properties)

Value trajectory by case type

Case type Filings Median change Underwater
Equity Division Sale 4,526 -22.7% 63.6%
High Urgency Pre Foreclosure 2,199 -33.3% 70.3%
Inherited Property 226 +17.6% 44.7%
Partition 142 -33.6% 59.2%
Stalled Project 107 -38.6% 66.4%
Tired Landlord 102 -54.1% 68.6%
Distressed Heir 89 -23.3% 55.1%
Real Estate Dispute 23 +73.3% 13.0%
Title Clearance Play 22 +19.3% 50.0%
Tax Sale Rescue 21 -46.2% 57.1%

Analysis of 7,510 Pennsylvania properties (20.6% 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).

The Pennsylvania pre-foreclosure visibility gap

The largest public foreclosure-aggregator interfaces surface only post-auction bank-owned properties in Pennsylvania. Pre-foreclosure court filings are not visible to their non-paying users. Keystone tracks the court filing the day it hits the docket, weeks or months before any property reaches the auction stage those aggregators surface.

Full audit: Court-vs-aggregator coverage gap report.

FEMA flood zone exposure across Pennsylvania

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 5253 properties with geocoded locations.

3.2%
in Special Flood Hazard Area
169
properties in high-risk zones
Flood zone Properties % of checked
X 4964 94.5%
AE 136 2.6%
X-500yr 63 1.2%
X-levee 55 1.0%
A 32 0.6%
A99 1 0.0%

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. 5253 properties checked.

Methodology and data sources

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Pennsylvania market rankings

See which Pennsylvania counties have the highest filing volume for each lead type:

Top Foreclosure Counties Top Probate Counties Top Divorce Counties Top Partition Counties Top Tax Sale Counties

Compare lead types

Which court-record lead type fits your strategy? Data-backed comparisons:

Pre-Foreclosure vs Probate Pre-Foreclosure vs Divorce Probate vs Divorce Guardianship vs Probate Pre-Foreclosure vs Tax Sale

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Cite: Keystone Court Data, "Pennsylvania Court Filings Intelligence," 2026-07-18, https://keystonecourtdata.com/reports/pa-court-filings-intelligence · Download data (CSV)