"Rising Home Foreclosures: The Top 5 States Hit Hardest"

Home foreclosures rose 8% nationwide in February, with the biggest increases seen in South Carolina, Missouri, and Pennsylvania. Despite this, completed foreclosures fell in 28 states, with the largest declines in Georgia and New York. The housing affordability crisis, driven by soaring home prices and mortgage rates, has led to a 61% increase in the typical salary required for homeownership over the past four years. The Federal Reserve's interest-rate hikes have pushed mortgage rates to nearly double what they were three years ago, exacerbating the lack of available homes for sale.