Monterey County Sees 120 Active Pre-Foreclosures Over Past 12 Months
These filings represent 0.6% of California's total, placing the county #28 statewide.
Monterey County recorded 120 active pre-foreclosures over the past 12 months, with a significant portion of these properties nearing the final stages of the foreclosure process. This figure, according to BatchData's Active Pre-Foreclosures Report for July 2026, offers a snapshot of current housing distress within the central California county. Investors and agents monitoring distressed assets should note the composition of this pipeline, which signals potential inventory for auctions and short sales.
County Overview
Monterey County's 120 active pre-foreclosures affect 130 parcels, indicating that some filings may involve multiple associated parcels, a common occurrence with larger or complex properties. While this number places Monterey County at #28 among California's 58 counties, it represents a smaller share of the statewide total, accounting for just 0.6% of California's 19,629 active pre-foreclosures. This suggests that while distressed properties are present, the county's volume is not among the state's largest contributors to the overall pre-foreclosure pipeline. For context, the national total of active pre-foreclosures stands at 283,909 properties during this period.
The distribution of these pre-foreclosures across different stages offers critical insights into the maturity of the distress. A majority of the filings, 69 properties or 57.5%, are in the Notice of Default (NOD) stage. This earliest phase of the pre-foreclosure pipeline signifies that homeowners have missed mortgage payments and lenders have initiated the formal process. Properties in this stage still have a higher likelihood of resolution before proceeding to further distress. However, a substantial number of properties in Monterey County have progressed beyond this initial stage, which investors should carefully consider for their real estate investing strategies.
Local Market Context
A significant portion of Monterey County's pre-foreclosure pipeline has advanced to later stages, signaling properties closer to auction or disposition. Specifically, 43 properties, representing 35.8% of the total, are under a Notice of Sale (NOS). This late-stage filing indicates that these properties are nearing a scheduled auction, presenting a more immediate opportunity for investors seeking distressed inventory. Additionally, 8 properties, or 6.7% of the pipeline, are in the Notice of Lis Pendens stage, an intermediate step that formally notifies the public of a pending lawsuit affecting the property's title. The concentration of 35.8% of properties in the Notice of Sale stage is a notable characteristic for Monterey County, suggesting a higher proportion of properties that may soon become available as REOs or through short sales compared to a pipeline dominated by early-stage defaults.
The types of properties entering pre-foreclosure in Monterey County are predominantly residential, aligning with broader housing market trends. Residential properties account for 107 of the 120 active pre-foreclosures, making up 89.2% of the total. Within this category, single-family homes are the most affected, with 77 properties representing 64.2% of all active pre-foreclosures. This reflects the typical composition of housing distress, where owner-occupied or investor-owned homes are frequently impacted. A distinctive local characteristic, however, is the presence of 20 rural/agricultural residences, accounting for 16.7% of the total. This notable share points to the county's agricultural heritage and rural areas, suggesting that distress extends beyond typical suburban single-family housing units.
Other property types contribute smaller, but still relevant, numbers to the pipeline. Commercial properties account for 8 filings, or 6.7% of the total, indicating some distress within local businesses. Vacant land represents 2 properties, or 1.7%, while condominium units also total 4 properties, or 3.3%. The pipeline also includes 2 general commercial properties and 2 gas stations, each making up 1.7% of the total. Smaller categories such as a florist, nursery or greenhouse (1 property, 0.8%), a residential common area (1 property, 0.8%), and exempt properties (1 property, 0.8%) complete the breakdown, underscoring the diverse nature of properties experiencing distress in the county. For real estate investors leveraging property data API solutions, understanding these specific property type concentrations is crucial for targeted outreach and acquisition strategies.