Foreclosure filings in central Indiana are up for the third year in a row

A new report from the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana shows foreclosure filings are on the rise.

The State of Fair Housing Report – Marion County Foreclosure Update shows foreclosure rates in central Indiana have increased annually for the last three years.

Marion County ended 2024 with 1,630 foreclosure filings — the highest number since 2018.

Amy Nelson, executive director of the Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana, said there are many factors that put people at risk of foreclosure. Even if mortgage payments stay the same, expenses including homeowners insurance, maintenance costs or property taxes could put people in a financial bind.

“There's just not enough money to go around,” Nelson said. “Wages haven't kept up with prices. Not only are individual housing costs going up, but costs for so many different things.”

Some Marion County neighborhoods were hit harder than others. That has been consistent in recent years.

Nelson said many of these same neighborhoods are the ones that experienced redlining and racial discrimination that has lasting impacts. Crown Hill, the Near Southside, and Arlington Woods were the neighborhoods with the highest foreclosure rates.

“Anytime we see these types of numbers going up, it raises significant concerns about somebody's loss of housing, what might happen to that home, and the impact upon neighborhoods,” Nelson said.

The report highlights solutions including guidance from lenders and local home repair assistance.

Indiana has some of the highest rates of foreclosure in the country, behind only Nevada and Delaware. Marion County had the highest number of foreclosures in Indiana.

Contact WFYI education reporter Sydney Dauphinais at sdauphinais@wfyi.org.