Denver foreclosures in 2026 are reaching the sale stage more often than last year, and mortgage rates are at their highest level in nearly three years. The Denver Public Trustee has issued 140 confirmation deeds so far in 2026, more than the 126 issued in all of 2025. Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% on October 15, 2026. For Colorado HUD home buyers, that points to more foreclosed FHA homes reaching the HUD Home Store. For FHA owners who are behind, it means acting before the sale date matters more than it did a year ago.
This post answers the questions buyers and owners are asking this week: are foreclosures rising in Denver, how many foreclosures there are in 2026, what mortgage rates are now, whether higher rates create more HUD homes, and what an FHA owner who is behind can still do. A HUD home is a foreclosed FHA home that HUD now owns and sells. See what a HUD home is for the full definition.
Are foreclosures rising in Denver in 2026?
Yes. More Denver foreclosures are finishing at the Public Trustee sale. The City and County of Denver reports 152 certificates of purchase so far in 2026, against 129 in all of 2025. A certificate of purchase is issued when a home sells at the Public Trustee sale. A confirmation deed is issued after the redemption period, when the winning bidder takes title.
New foreclosure starts in Denver are running at a pace close to last year. Denver reports 496 starts so far in 2026, against 677 in all of 2025. Fewer cases are being withdrawn. Denver reports 294 withdrawals so far in 2026, against 475 in all of 2025. A withdrawal usually means the owner caught up, sold or reached a workout with the lender.
| Denver Public Trustee | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 (year to date) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure starts | 560 | 677 | 496 |
| Withdrawals | 459 | 475 | 294 |
| Certificates of purchase (sold at sale) | 84 | 129 | 152 |
| Confirmation deeds (title transferred) | 85 | 126 | 140 |
Figures from the City and County of Denver Public Trustee foreclosure statistics page, read October 17, 2026.
How many foreclosures are there in Colorado?
Statewide, Colorado foreclosure starts rose 16.3% in the first half of 2026, from 2,964 to 3,543, according to ATTOM data reported by Cash Flow Deals. That was the ninth-largest increase of any state. ATTOM data published by Safeguard Properties counted 95 vacant “zombie” pre-foreclosures in Colorado in the third quarter, 3.9% of Colorado homes in foreclosure. Pueblo, Denver, Arapahoe and Boulder counties led that list.
What are mortgage rates right now?
The 30-year fixed rate averaged 7.40% on October 15, 2026, unchanged from the week before, according to Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The Associated Press reported that this is the highest level since November 16, 2023, and that the reading ended a seven-week climb. A year ago the rate was 6.27%. The 15-year fixed rate averaged 6.71%.
On a $350,000 loan, the move from 6.27% to 7.40% raises principal and interest from about $2,160 to about $2,423 a month. That is about $264 more each month. FHA rates are quoted separately and are often lower than the Freddie Mac average. Compare HUD financing options before you bid.
Do higher rates create more HUD homes?
Higher rates add pressure in two ways. Owners who fall behind have a harder time refinancing out of trouble. Owners who need to sell face fewer buyers. When an FHA home goes to the Public Trustee sale and no outside bidder buys it, the lender conveys it to HUD. Raine and Company, the Colorado HUD asset manager, then lists it on the HUD Home Store.
That process takes months. A home in foreclosure today may not reach the HUD Home Store until 2027. Watch the live Colorado HUD homes for sale list and the monthly Colorado HUD inventory report for the trend.
HUD homes available now in metro Denver
Pulled from HUD’s live inventory and refreshed twice a day. Bid deadlines move and homes drop off the day a bid is accepted, so confirm any of these with us before you plan around it. Only a HUD-registered agent can place your bid. That is us; ask how buyer-broker compensation works for the property.
4374 W Pondview Dr
Littleton, Arapahoe County · 2 bed · 2 bath · IE$100 down
$370,000
10351 W Girton Dr Unit 2
Lakewood, Jefferson County · 2 bed · 2 bath · IN$100 down
$302,600
1625 Verbena St
Denver, Denver County · 2 bed · 1 bath · IE$100 down
$260,000
1030 S Zeno Way
Aurora, Arapahoe County · 3 bed · 3 bath · IE$100 down
$250,500
1608 Oakland St
Aurora, Adams County · 2 bed · 1 bath · IE$100 down
$244,000
8600 E Alameda Ave #19-108
Denver, Denver County · 2 bed · 2 bath · IE$100 down
$228,000
8047 Wolff Street #h
Westminster, Adams County · 3 bed · 1.1 bath · IE$100 down
$194,400
3550 S Harlan Street Unit 242
Denver, Denver County · 2 bed · 2 bath · IN$100 down
$191,000
17113 E Ford Drive
Aurora, Arapahoe County · 2 bed · 2 bath · IE$100 down
$160,000
17670 E Loyola Dr Unit B
Aurora, Arapahoe County · 1 bed · 1 bath · IN$100 down
$136,000
2281 South Vaughn Way Unit 117a
Aurora, Arapahoe County · 2 bed · 2 bath · IE$100 down
$130,000
2231 South Vaughn Way Unit 111b
Aurora, Arapahoe County · 1 bed · 1 bath · IE$100 down
$78,400
Every home above is a verified HUD-owned listing, checked against HUD Home Store on Oct 21, 2026 8:21 pm Mountain time. Official source: HUD Home Store guidance at hud.gov; if anything differs, the federal listing controls.
10 more across Colorado, from Fountain to Pueblo to the Eastern Plains. See every HUD home in the state, or call or text 303-955-4220 and we will tell you which ones are worth a look.
Is it a good time to buy a HUD home in Colorado?
HUD homes give owner-occupants terms that soften a high-rate market:
- Owner-occupants get the first 15 days to bid on insured homes and 5 days on uninsured homes. Investors bid after that.
- HUD pays up to 3% of the price toward closing costs if the buyer asks for it in the bid.
- Earnest money is $500 on homes under $50,000 and $1,000 above that.
- Cash purchases close in 30 days. Financed purchases close in 45 days. Extensions run in 15-day blocks and cost $375 to $750.
- Many insured HUD homes qualify for $100 down FHA financing.
- Teachers, law enforcement officers, firefighters and EMTs can buy in revitalization areas at 50% off list through Good Neighbor Next Door.
The steps are in how to buy a HUD home. HUD bids go through a HUD-registered broker. Find a HUD-registered agent or call 303-955-4220.
What can an FHA owner who is behind on payments do?
An FHA servicer must review the owner for loss mitigation before a foreclosure sale. The options include a repayment plan, a partial claim, a loan modification, a pre-foreclosure sale and a deed-in-lieu. The full list is in how FHA loss mitigation works before a home becomes a HUD home.
HUD’s Mortgagee Letter 2026-08 updated the loss mitigation requirements, and servicers had to put the changes in place by September 21, 2026. Under the current rules, a borrower can receive one permanent loss mitigation option every 24 months. An owner who used an option recently may not qualify for another one. That makes a short sale the main exit for more owners.
Is a short sale better than foreclosure for an FHA borrower?
For most FHA owners who cannot keep the home, yes. The FHA short sale is called a pre-foreclosure sale. The owner sells for less than the loan balance and FHA covers the difference. The sale must net at least 88% of the appraised value in the first 30 days of marketing, 86% in days 31 to 60, and 84% after that. A qualifying owner can receive up to $3,000 at closing for relocation. A foreclosure goes on the record and ends with no payment to the owner.
Read the FHA short sale guide for Colorado, or see short sale help on the Kenna Real Estate Group main site. Owners in Denver can reach a Denver short sale realtor at 303-955-4220.
Who answers these questions?
The Kenna Real Estate Group at Keller Williams DTC in Centennial is HUD-registered (NAID MSTRSR6204). The group is rated 4.9 stars across 332 reviews. Learn more about HUD listing and bidding in Colorado.
Frequently asked questions
Are foreclosures rising in Denver in 2026?
Yes. The Denver Public Trustee has issued 152 certificates of purchase and 140 confirmation deeds so far in 2026. Both totals already exceed all of 2025.
What is the 30-year mortgage rate this week?
Freddie Mac reported 7.40% on October 15, 2026, the highest since November 2023. A year ago it was 6.27%.
Do higher rates mean more HUD homes in Colorado?
They add pressure. More FHA homes that reach the Public Trustee sale without an outside buyer go to HUD. The process takes months, so the effect shows up over the next year.
How does a foreclosed FHA home become a HUD home?
If no outside bidder buys it at the Public Trustee sale, the lender takes title and conveys it to HUD. Raine and Company then lists it on the HUD Home Store.
What can an FHA owner who is behind do?
Ask the servicer for a loss mitigation review now. If keeping the home is not possible, an FHA pre-foreclosure sale avoids a foreclosure and can pay up to $3,000 toward relocation.
Questions about a HUD home or an FHA short sale?
Call or text 303-955-4220. A live person answers.
Sources
- City and County of Denver, Denver Public Trustee, “Foreclosure Statistics,” read October 17, 2026. denvergov.org
- Freddie Mac, “Mortgage Rates Hold Steady at 7.40%,” October 15, 2026. freddiemac.com/pmms
- Associated Press (via WFTV), “Average long-term US mortgage rate holds at 7.4%, remaining at highest level in nearly 3 years,” October 15, 2026. wftv.com
- Safeguard Properties (ATTOM data), “Zombie Foreclosure Rates by State – Q3 2026,” September 4, 2026. safeguardproperties.com
- Cash Flow Deals (ATTOM data), “Colorado Foreclosure Starts Are Climbing in 2026, ATTOM Data Shows,” updated August 4, 2026. cashflowfl.com
Where to go next
- Colorado HUD homes for sale
- Denver HUD homes
- Colorado HUD inventory report
- FHA short sales in Colorado
- HUD home FAQs
- Find a HUD-registered agent
Call or text 303-955-4220. A live person answers.
Written and reviewed by
Brian Lee Burke, Colorado HUD home specialist and team leader
Licensed Colorado real estate professional since 2003 · REALTOR® · Team leader and licensed broker of the Kenna Real Estate Group at Keller Williams DTC, a group that regularly bids on HUD homes through Keller Williams Realty DTC, LLC, a HUD-registered brokerage · Author of The Real Estate Playbook and Mastering Real Estate. Brian’s full HUD biography.
Last reviewed: October 17, 2026 · Sources: HUD Home Store and HUD Handbook 4000.1, CHFA program guidelines, metroDPA program guidelines, Freddie Mac PMMS, and the county programs named on the page.
Lending content reviewed by Mike Oswald, VP of Mortgage Lending at Rate, NMLS 261003.
Program facts change. Eligibility varies by buyer and property; lender approval is required; program funding can run out; buyers may use any qualified lender; the Kenna Real Estate Group does not control HUD, CHFA or lender decisions. Verify the current terms with the program and your lender before you rely on them.
Contact: call or text 303-955-4220 or homes@kennarealestate.com. During office hours you reach a live local Kenna real estate professional, not a robot or a national call center. Brokerage: Keller Williams Realty DTC, LLC (the Kenna Real Estate Group is a group of brokers there), 6300 S Syracuse Way, Suite 150, Centennial, CO 80111. Each Keller Williams office is independently owned and operated. The Kenna Real Estate Group is an independent real estate team and is not affiliated with or endorsed by HUD or any government agency; official property information comes from HUD Home Store. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Free guide, PDF
$100 Down: The HUD Home Financing Guide
The $100 down rule, CHFA, HUD paying your closing costs: the stack that gets a buyer in for about $1,000. 14 pages, free.
Why you want it before you bid:
- Which listings qualify for $100 down and how to spot them (the IN and IE codes)
- What you still pay at closing, line by line, with a real example
- How $100 down stacks with CHFA, metroDPA and Good Neighbor Next Door
Find every home available, not just HUD homes
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