Distressed filings in Cook County are ticking up. Most of it is still small stock.

Cook County posted 786 new foreclosure notices in July 2026, up from 707 in June, per The Real Deal’s read of the filings (August 29, 2026). Illinois still ranked near the top of the country for foreclosure starts that month. The Institute for Housing Studies / Illinois Realtors August 2026 forecast still has Chicago-area foreclosure activity below pre-pandemic levels.

What matters for a Chicago desk: 677 of those 786 July filings were on properties with mortgages under $500,000. Distress is concentrated in the stock we actually buy, rehab, and manage — not trophy towers.

Chicago foreclosure & off-market

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