Queens has the second-highest foreclosure risk in New York State, with a score of 60.4 in a 2026 analysis of 60 counties across the state. The Bronx ranked highest, with a score of 73.9, according to a report by NestCash, a real estate investment and data company.
The report assessed foreclosure risk using four key indicators: housing market conditions, mortgage cost burden, 90-day mortgage delinquency and unemployment. Each factor was weighted according to its potential impact on homeowners with mortgages to produce a comparative risk score.
One of the main factors contributing to Queens’ elevated risk was the high cost of housing. Approximately 48.3% of homeowners with mortgages in the borough spend more than 30% of their income on housing expenses. This was the highest share among all counties included in the study.
Queens also showed signs of a relatively slow housing market. Only 9.4% of active home listings had price reductions, while homes took a median of more than 70 days to sell.
According to NestCash, housing market softness accounted for 35% of the overall risk score, mortgage cost burden contributed 30%, 90-day mortgage delinquency accounted for 20%, and unemployment made up the remaining 15%.
The analysis identified six counties with elevated foreclosure risk, defined as a score of 50 or higher.
The Bronx ranked first with a score of 73.9, followed by Queens at 60.4 and Kings County, home to Brooklyn, at 58.7. Rockland County scored 53.8, Orange County received 53.5, and Richmond County, which includes Staten Island, recorded a score of 51.4.
Together, these six counties account for approximately 35.1% of the homes in New York State, according to the report.
Foreclosure generally refers to a legal process through which a lender seeks to recover a property when a borrower fails to meet mortgage obligations. However, a high foreclosure risk score does not mean that every homeowner in a county is at risk of losing their home. Instead, the index compares counties based on housing market conditions and other economic indicators.