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Mortgage Debt Statistics 2026: How Much Americans Owe

Total US mortgage debt, average balances by age, underwater mortgages, and home equity data. Complete mortgage debt analysis.

US Mortgage Debt Overview 2026

MetricValueNotes
Total US Mortgage Debt$12.8 trillionAll outstanding mortgages
Number of Mortgages53.5 millionActive mortgage accounts
Average Mortgage Balance$244,500Per borrower
Median Mortgage Balance$210,000Per borrower
Average Monthly Payment$2,150Principal + Interest
Total Monthly w/ Escrow$2,680PITI (Principal, Interest, Tax, Insurance)
Mortgage Originations (2025)$1.9 trillionAnnual new loans
Refinance Share22%Of all originations
Average Loan-to-Value72%At origination
Average Credit Score735Of new borrowers

Average Mortgage Balance by Age

Age GroupAvg Mortgage BalanceNotes
Under 30$228,000First-time buyer mortgages
30-39$268,000Upgrading/growing families
40-49$245,000Peak home value period
50-59$198,000Paying down principal
60-69$152,000Approaching retirement
70+$118,000Many paid off or downsized

Home Equity Statistics

MetricValueNotes
Total US Home Equity$35.2 trillionAll homeowners combined
Average Equity per Homeowner$315,000Including paid-off homes
Equity-Rich Homes48.3%Mortgage balance less than 50% of value
Underwater Mortgages1.8%Owe more than home is worth
Average HELOC Balance$42,000Among HELOC holders
HELOC Utilization Rate38%Of available credit line

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much mortgage debt does the average American have?

The average mortgage balance is $244,500. However, this varies widely by age: under-30 borrowers average $228,000 while those over 70 average $118,000.

How much total mortgage debt is in the US?

Total US mortgage debt is approximately $12.8 trillion across 53.5 million mortgages. This is the largest category of household debt.

What percentage of homes are underwater?

Only 1.8% of mortgaged homes are underwater (owe more than the home is worth) in 2026. This is dramatically lower than the 26% rate seen during the 2012 housing crisis.

How much home equity does the average homeowner have?

The average homeowner has approximately $315,000 in home equity. Nearly half (48.3%) of homeowners are equity-rich, meaning their mortgage balance is less than 50% of the home value.

Data & Research

State RankingsSalary DataFinancial by AgeMortgage DataInsurance DataCredit Card DataTax Brackets 2026Minimum Wage

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