
- April 28, 2025
- Reading time about 6 minutes
Mortgage delinquency. It’s one of those terms that rarely makes headlines unless things are getting a little shaky underneath. And in 2025, that’s exactly what’s happening. Some states in the US are showing visible signs of distress—homeowners are falling behind on payments, and banks are responding the way they usually do: with foreclosures. What happens next? You guessed it. A rise in property auctions, especially online.
So, if you’re someone keeping a close eye on real estate auctions in Vermont or Louisiana or simply trying to make sense of what this all means as an agent or investor, here’s what you need to know.
Mortgage Delinquencies: The First Red Flag
Let’s lay the groundwork first. Mortgage delinquency is when a homeowner misses one or more payments on their mortgage. When delinquencies climb, foreclosures usually follow—and when that happens on a scale, those properties end up at auction.
Now, according to WalletHub data from Q1 2024:
- Vermont reported a 24% quarter-over-quarter increase in mortgage delinquencies, with 7.1% of mortgages currently delinquent.
- Louisiana showed the highest year-over-year increase in delinquencies as of September 2024 (+0.6 percentage points).
- Texas wasn’t far behind, with a 0.4 percentage point uptick during the same period.
Meanwhile, Mississippi, West Virginia, and Arkansas have remained consistent outliers in delinquency rates—largely due to their economic structure and lower median household incomes. In these regions, housing is affordable, yes, but financial stability isn’t always guaranteed.
Why This Matters in 2025
Delinquency trends aren’t just economic indicators—they’re predictive signals. When mortgage trouble spikes, real estate auctions follow closely behind, especially in areas without strong recovery buffers.
2025 is proving to be a tipping point. Here’s why:
1. A Backlog of Distress Is Hitting the Market
The pandemic-era protections are long gone, and the lag between delinquency and foreclosure is narrowing. That means homes that went into early-stage delinquency in 2023 are now arriving at auction platforms in 2025. This backlog is suddenly creating a surplus of properties for sale—many of them in regional states that weren’t on investors’ radars before.
2. Traditional Listings Are Cooling Off
With interest rates still hovering on the higher side and conventional listings slowing down, auctions are gaining traction. Buyers are more deal-conscious, and sellers under pressure are choosing quicker exits. That’s why we’re seeing an uptick in auction activity not just from banks and lenders, but also from independent homeowners and agents looking to move inventory.
3. Online Auction Platforms Are Doing the Heavy Lifting
Gone are the days when property auctions meant crowded courthouse steps and obscure listings. In 2025, online auctions platforms like BidHom are changing the game. Real-time bidding, property transparency, document access, and virtual support have brought ease and speed to a process that once felt murky and rushed.
With BidHom, agents can list properties for auction, manage bidding cycles, and attract remote buyers from across the country—not just local flippers. For real estate investors, it’s a faster, cleaner, and often more affordable path to property acquisition.
Vermont: A Case in Point
Let’s zero in on real estate auctions in Vermont for a second. This state usually flies under the radar in national housing conversations. But that’s exactly what makes the current situation so interesting. A 24% spike in mortgage delinquencies in just one quarter is not a blip—it’s a clear market shift.
That means a larger-than-usual number of homes are heading to auction. And given Vermont’s lower population density and slower-moving traditional market, auctions are becoming a preferred channel for faster property turnover.
It’s not just banks listing these homes. Agents and brokers are starting to experiment with platforms like BidHom to attract broader visibility, skip long marketing cycles, and close deals quickly—especially in smaller towns where listing exposure is limited.
Mississippi, Arkansas & West Virginia: Slow-Burn Hotspots
These states have been simmering for years. Mortgage delinquency rates here don’t spike overnight, they hover. That makes them ideal for investors and agents looking for a consistent flow of distressed properties. These are markets where auction properties often come with lower reserve prices and decent rental potential.
Agents who understand how to position these homes for investors—highlighting cap rate potential, community stability, and even rent-to-own options—are doing especially well here. And with more inventories funneling through real estate auctions platforms, the opportunity isn’t going unnoticed.
A Quick Word on Texas
Texas is a big market, and even a small percentage shift moves thousands of homes. A 0.4% increase in delinquencies doesn’t sound dramatic—but in a state with over 8 million housing units, that’s tens of thousands of additional distressed homeowners.
Auction inventory here is diverse: from suburban homes in Houston to smaller investment-grade properties near Austin or San Antonio. And because of strong investor interest, auction platforms see consistent activity in the Texas market. Think of faster bidding cycles, more competition, but also better tools to screen and filter the right properties.
What Real Estate Professionals Should Be Doing Right Now
Let’s be honest: you don’t want to be late to this evolution. If you’re a broker, agent, or buyer watching these trends unfold, here’s how to ali gn:
- Start tracking delinquency data in your key states. It’s a direct pipeline to forecast upcoming auctions.
- Get comfortable with auction formats. Online platforms like BidHom offer guided walkthroughs, resource libraries, and team support to get you familiar fast.
- Position your listings smartly. Sellers facing financial strain are more open to auctioning properties now than they were two years ago. Use that.
- Educate your clients. Many buyers still see auctions as high-risk. But with better title transparency and platform safeguards, it’s a smart entry point in today’s volatile market.
Why BidHom Makes Sense in This Market
In a time where speed, clarity, and access matter more than ever, BidHom is making real estate auctions more accessible, transparent, and strategic. Whether you’re an agent listing distressed properties or an investor looking for on-market deals without the fluff, BidHom offers:
- Clean UI and live bidding dashboard
- Integrated listing support for agents
- Nationwide buyer exposure
- Post-bid process streamlining
It’s the auction platform built for today’s market—not the courthouse chaos of the past.
Final Thought: Auctions Are Not a Niche Anymore
If you’re still thinking of auctions as edge-of-market territory, it’s time to update your playbook. With rising delinquencies reshaping state markets from Vermont to Louisiana and beyond, auctions are becoming a core sales channel.
And those who understand how to work with platforms like BidHom now? They’ll be the ones closing more deals, faster, and with better control.
Explore smarter real estate auctions. Start with BidHom.