Watauga County, NC Distress Report: Foreclosure, Tax Liens & ZIPs (2026)
Where is distress concentrating in Watauga County, North Carolina? DLRadar grades every Watauga County ZIP 0-100 from foreclosure, tax-lien, mortgage and insurance records, peaking at 34/100. Here is the 2026 Watauga County breakdown.
- Watauga County's most distressed ZIP is 28607 at 34/100.
- 10 ZIP codes tracked in Watauga County, averaging 32/100 distress.
- Watauga County reads peak — home values up 1.9% year over year.
- Vacancy runs 36.1% across Watauga County's tracked ZIPs, with a 12.9% poverty rate.
- The typical Watauga County home is worth about $315,530 against a ~$50,888 median income.
- Lending headwind in Watauga County sits at 46/100 — a forward read on distressed supply.
Source data is DLRadar's monthly public-record index. Citation welcome, with attribution to DLRadar (dlradar.com).
| Rank | ZIP | Composite distress |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28607 | 34/100 |
| 2 | 28618 | 34/100 |
| 3 | 28679 | 34/100 |
| 4 | 28692 | 34/100 |
| 5 | 28698 | 34/100 |
| 6 | 28605 | 33/100 |
| 7 | 28684 | 32/100 |
| 8 | 28604 | 31/100 |
| 9 | 28645 | 30/100 |
| 10 | 28622 | 22/100 |
Most distressed ZIP codes in Watauga County (composite distress 0-100, 2026)
What is driving Watauga County distress
Watauga County's placement in the national index rests on public filings — a 32/100 average across its ZIPs. DLRadar reads FHFA price trajectory, CFPB mortgage delinquency, recorder-level foreclosure and tax-lien activity, FEMA/NFIP loss history and Census ACS demographics.
Watauga County market phase and pricing
Watauga County reads peak — home prices rose 1.9% over the last year. When prices ease, days-on-market stretch out, surfacing more motivated sellers.
See the distressed properties behind the data in Watauga County
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Frequently asked questions
Which part of Watauga County, NC scores highest for distress?
ZIP 28607 leads Watauga County at 34/100, recomputed monthly from public records.
How would you describe the Watauga County market phase?
FHFA price-index movement places Watauga County in peak; prices are up 1.9% over twelve months.
Which datasets feed the Watauga County scores?
The inputs are all public: FHFA for the peak path, CFPB mortgage performance, recorder filings from the county, FEMA and NFIP, and Census ACS. Because all 10 ZIP codes in Watauga County run through the identical model used nationwide, the figures compare directly against any other market.
How much do distress scores vary between Watauga County ZIP codes?
County-level numbers smooth away the detail that matters. Across the Watauga County ZIPs DLRadar ranks, scores run from 34/100 in 28607 down to 22/100 in 28622, against a Watauga County average of 32/100. That 12-point gap is why acquisition targeting in Watauga County works at ZIP level rather than county level.
What do Watauga County home values and vacancy say about distressed supply?
The typical Watauga County home carries about $315,530 of value against a median household income near $50,888. Vacancy across Watauga County's tracked ZIPs runs 36.1% and the poverty rate is 12.9%. Thin affordability and empty housing are what convert a late payment into a sale, so they are read next to Watauga County's foreclosure and lien filings and its 46/100 lending headwind.
Related
Scores are computed, not advised: public records, fixed formulas, monthly refresh. Not investment, legal or financial advice.