Kansas Pre-Foreclosures on the Rise: A Growing Struggle for Homeowners

The numbers are going up, but the stories behind them remain painfully the same. In Kansas, the warnings arrive in the form of certified letters taped to front doors, official notices from lenders that pre-foreclosure proceedings have begun. The process—a slow march toward potential displacement—has gained momentum in recent months. In June 2024, 86 Kansas homeowners entered pre-foreclosure. That’s a 24.64% increase from May and a 13.16% rise from this time last year.

For those watching pre-foreclosure rates in the state, the steady climb is a cause for concern. Kansas has seen a prolonged decline in pre-foreclosures since the peaks of 2011 and 2012, when nearly 10,000 families per year faced the possibility of losing their homes. The downward trend that followed was promising. But now, a different kind of distress appears to be bubbling back up, affecting pockets of homeowners across the state.

A Sudden Rise Amid Lingering Economic Struggles

The reasons behind the increase are familiar and frustrating: inflation, rising property taxes, and stagnant wages. For many Kansas homeowners, these factors have tightened household budgets to the point where even one missed paycheck can mean falling behind on mortgage payments.

Tamara Wilson, a single mother in Wichita, was hit hardest when her grocery bill shot up by nearly 20% over the past year. “Everything has become more expensive—food, utilities, even gas,” she says. “I thought I was managing okay, but then my property taxes came due, and I just didn’t have the extra money.” Falling behind on her payments in March, she received her pre-foreclosure notice last month. Now, she’s uncertain if she and her two children will be able to stay in their home.

Kansas is not the only state facing this challenge, but its pre-foreclosure trends hint at the lasting economic fragility that many working- and middle-class families feel across the country. While foreclosure rates are nowhere near the levels of the 2008 housing crash, the year-over-year increase suggests warnings that shouldn’t be ignored.

How This Compares to Recent Years

Looking further back, it’s clear that Kansas pre-foreclosures have gone through stark ups and downs. In 2011, at the height of the country’s foreclosure crisis, nearly 10,000 Kansas homeowners were in danger of losing their homes. Since then, the numbers have plunged—only 931 pre-foreclosures occurred in 2023. So far, 475 homeowners have already entered pre-foreclosure in 2024, meaning this year could finish at a similar level.

By comparison:

• In 2012: Over 6,000 pre-foreclosures took place.
• In 2014: That number had dropped to 1,605.
• By 2019, prior to the pandemic: There were only 84 pre-foreclosures.

Today’s increases don’t yet suggest a return to housing crisis levels, but they do indicate growing risks—especially for households on the economic edge.

What’s Next for Vulnerable Homeowners?

For families like Wilson’s, the path ahead is uncertain. Many turn to legal aid organizations and housing counselors, looking for ways to restructure debt or negotiate with lenders. Others start looking for cheaper rental housing, though affordability remains a major challenge in Kansas cities and rural areas alike.

Housing advocates warn that if inflation remains unpredictable and wage growth doesn’t keep up with higher costs, more homeowners could find themselves in pre-foreclosure before the year is over. “It’s not just about missed mortgage payments,” says John Ramirez, a foreclosure prevention counselor in Topeka. “It’s medical bills, car repairs, unexpected expenses. People are barely getting by, and when they fall behind, it can be nearly impossible to catch up.”

For now, Kansas’ pre-foreclosure trends serve as an early warning: while the worst of the Great Recession-era housing crisis may be in the past, the financial fragility it exposed still lingers for many families. And as the numbers inch upward, the need for solutions—policy changes, financial assistance programs, and greater economic security—becomes all the more urgent.