Are Foreclosure Auctions Increasing in Ohio?

Foreclosure activity is picking up across the country, and Ohio is part of it. Completed foreclosure auctions rose year over year in the third quarter of 2026, active foreclosure inventory is at its highest level since early 2019, and more sales are already scheduled for November than a year ago. For servicers, lenders, and foreclosure attorneys, that means more files moving to sale. For buyers, it means more opportunities.

Beth Rose Real Estate and Auctions serves as a private selling officer (PSO) across Ohio. A PSO is a licensed auctioneer and real estate professional the court authorizes to sell a foreclosed property in place of the county sheriff. Here's what the latest data shows, why volume is rising, and how a PSO sale helps move more properties to a third-party buyer.

The short answer: Yes. Completed foreclosure auctions in Ohio rose 12% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, and Ohio accounted for about 5% of the national total, the fourth-largest share of any state. Nationally, scheduled auctions for November are running about 31% above last year. A PSO sale is one court-approved way to move these properties online, under the same two-thirds minimum bid and court confirmation rules as a sheriff's sale.

What you'll learn

• How much foreclosure auction volume has grown, nationally and in Ohio
• Why more homes are heading to foreclosure sale
• How a PSO sale handles higher volume
• What Ohio Senate Bill 135 would change, and where it stands

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Are foreclosure auctions rising in Ohio?

Yes. Two national reports released in October 2026 point the same direction: more homes are completing foreclosure, and more are in the pipeline behind them.

Ohio's foreclosure activity is rising more slowly than the national pace, but from a large base. Only Texas, Florida, and California made up a bigger share of completed auctions last quarter. With scheduled November sales well above last year, servicers should plan for heavier volume through the winter.

Why are more homes heading to foreclosure sale?

The increase is coming mostly from newer loans, not the older loans behind the last foreclosure wave.

• Newer, higher-rate loans. Loans made in 2022 or later accounted for 43% of foreclosure starts and 49% of completed foreclosure sales in September, according to ICE. In the third-quarter auction data, post-2022 loans made up 46% of completed auctions.
• FHA loans. FHA loans made up about 43% of completed auction volume in the third quarter, and FHA auction volume rose 73% from a year earlier.
• Higher costs for borrowers. Elevated mortgage rates, insurance, and property taxes have stretched borrowers who bought or refinanced in recent years.
• Older loans are fading. Loans made from 2005 to 2009 now account for less than 9% of auction volume.

Delinquencies overall remain below pre-pandemic levels. The national rate in September was 34 basis points below September 2019. What's changed is that loans already in serious delinquency are moving through to sale.

How does a PSO sale handle higher volume?

Under ORC 2329.152, the judgment creditor can ask the court to authorize a PSO to sell the property instead of the county sheriff. The legal guardrails stay the same: the sheriff still orders the appraisal, and the property can't sell for less than two-thirds of the appraised value at the first sale (ORC 2329.20). What changes is how the property is marketed and sold.

At Beth Rose, every PSO sale follows the same terms:

• Online only. Bidders across Ohio can take part without attending a county sale. Ohio law requires an online PSO auction to stay open at least seven calendar days.
• Minimum bid of two-thirds of the sheriff's appraisal, as the statute requires.
• 5% buyer's premium, paid by the buyer.
• One-minute soft close. A bid in the final minute extends the auction by one minute, repeating until bidding stops.
• Bidder alerts. Registered bidders get messages when a sale's status changes and when they've been outbid.
• Title company closing. Deposits and final funds are wired to a licensed title company, which handles closing.

When volume rises, consistency matters. One PSO running sales across many counties gives servicers the same marketing, bidder terms, and reporting on every file. For a step-by-step walkthrough, read our guide to how Ohio private selling officer sales work.

What would Ohio Senate Bill 135 change, and where does it stand?

Senate Bill 135 would update Ohio's rules for foreclosure and execution sales, including PSO sales. It passed the Ohio Senate on June 3, 2026, and was referred to the House Development Committee on June 9. As of October 30, 2026, there has been no further action.

As introduced, the bill would:

• Shorten the minimum length of an online foreclosure auction from seven days to three, for both PSO and sheriff's sales, and require all bids to be visible during bidding
• Let a plaintiff require a PSO sale, without court discretion, when the defendant doesn't respond to the foreclosure
• Let a lienholder object to the PSO within 10 days of the order of sale
• Prohibit a PSO from being affiliated with a mortgagee or mortgage servicer
• Allow a property that doesn't sell at the first auction to be reoffered with no minimum bid as soon as three days later
• Allow later sale notices to run on the PSO's website after the first newspaper notice

The bill could still change in the House. We're tracking it and will update this post if it moves.

Planning for higher volume this winter?

If you're a servicer, lender, or foreclosure attorney with Ohio files heading to sale, we're glad to talk through a specific property, county, or timeline before there's an appointment.

Schedule a PSO Consultation or call 419-534-6223 to talk with our team.

Looking to buy? Browse current foreclosure auctions and read our Ohio foreclosure auction FAQ.

Frequently asked questions

Are foreclosures going up in Ohio?

Yes. Completed foreclosure auctions in Ohio rose 12% year over year in the third quarter of 2026, and Ohio accounted for about 5% of completed auctions nationwide, the fourth-largest share of any state.

How many foreclosure auctions are there in Ohio in 2026?

Public reports give shares and trends rather than a single statewide count. In the third quarter of 2026, Ohio made up about 5% of completed foreclosure auctions nationally, behind only Texas, Florida, and California. Nationally, auctions scheduled for November are running about 31% above last year.

Why are foreclosures increasing?

Most of the increase comes from newer loans. Loans made in 2022 or later accounted for 49% of completed foreclosure sales in September 2026, and FHA loans made up about 43% of completed auction volume in the third quarter.

How can a lender sell a foreclosure faster in Ohio?

One option is a private selling officer (PSO) sale. The judgment creditor asks the court to authorize a licensed PSO under ORC 2329.152. The PSO markets the property and sells it online, under the same two-thirds minimum bid and court confirmation rules as a sheriff's sale, with a licensed title company handling closing.

What is Ohio Senate Bill 135?

Senate Bill 135 would update Ohio's foreclosure and execution sale rules, including PSO sales. As introduced, it would shorten online auctions from seven days to three and let plaintiffs require a PSO sale when the defendant doesn't respond. It passed the Senate on June 3, 2026, and has been in the House Development Committee since June 9.

What are the terms for buyers at a Beth Rose foreclosure auction?

All sales are online. The minimum bid is two-thirds of the sheriff's appraisal, the buyer's premium is 5%, and a bid in the final minute extends the auction by one minute. Deposits and final funds are wired to the title company.

Key takeaways

• Completed foreclosure auctions rose 25% nationally and 12% in Ohio year over year in the third quarter of 2026.
• Ohio accounts for about 5% of completed auctions nationwide, the fourth-largest share.
• Active foreclosure inventory is up 37% year over year, and November scheduled auctions are about 31% above last year.
• Newer loans and FHA loans are driving most of the increase.
• A PSO sale moves foreclosures online under the same two-thirds minimum bid and court confirmation rules as a sheriff's sale.
• Ohio Senate Bill 135 is pending in the House and could change PSO sale rules.

This article is general information about foreclosure trends and private selling officer sales under the Ohio Revised Code. It is not legal advice. The court's orders, local rules, and the statutes in effect on the date of sale control. Confirm current requirements with foreclosure counsel.

Sources

• HousingWire, "Foreclosure auctions, up 25% in the past year, hit a post-pandemic peak," Oct. 23, 2026
• WRE News, "Foreclosure Inventory Climbs 37% as September Mortgage Delinquencies Reach 3.66%, ICE Says," Oct. 27, 2026
• Ohio Senate Bill 135 status, Ohio General Assembly
• ORC 2329.152: authorization of private selling officer
• ORC 2329.20: two-thirds minimum bid