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
Talk to Us About a PSO Appointment · Our PSO Services · Current Foreclosure Auctions
Prefer to talk it through? Call our team at 419-534-6223.
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.
| Measure | Figure | Period | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Completed foreclosure auctions, national | Up 25% year over year; highest quarterly total since early 2020 | Q3 2026 | National online foreclosure marketplace data, reported by HousingWire |
| Completed foreclosure auctions, Ohio | Up 12% year over year | Q3 2026 | Same |
| Ohio's share of national volume | About 5%, the fourth-largest share of any state | Q3 2026 | Same |
| Scheduled foreclosure auctions, national | About 31% above last year | November 2026 | Same |
| Active foreclosure inventory, national | Up 37% year over year; highest since early 2019 | September 2026 | ICE First Look, reported by WRE News |
| Completed foreclosure sales, national | Up 15% year over year | September 2026 | ICE First Look |
| National mortgage delinquency rate | 3.66% | September 2026 | ICE First Look |
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.
The increase is coming mostly from newer loans, not the older loans behind the last foreclosure wave.
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.
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:
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.
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:
The bill could still change in the House. We're tracking it and will update this post if it moves.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.