Google Searches For “Mortgage Help” Skyrocket to Highest Point Since 2009

BiggerPockets Blog
Published: September 26, 2025
Pricing & Profitability

Summary

Rising mortgage help searches and increasing foreclosure-related legal inquiries signal potential distress in the housing market, which could affect local short-term rental markets. Hosts should monitor regional foreclosure trends and consider expanding their market research to adjacent areas to find distressed properties.

Key Insights

  • Google searches for “mortgage help” have increased to levels not seen since 2009, indicating potential financial distress in the residential home market.
  • Nationwide foreclosures increased by 13% from the same period a year ago in July.
  • Foreclosure-related legal inquiries jumped nearly 30% year over year in Q2 2025.

Action Items

  • Stay ahead of the curve by looking at distressed-adjacent zones to find properties that might become available.
    Effort: low
    Impact: medium
  • Track early indicators locally by monitoring Google Trends and legal inquiries service data in regional markets.
    Effort: low
    Impact: medium

Tools & Resources

  • ATTOM: According to data analytics firm ATTOM.

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