Massive "Help with mortgage" Google searches: Investors should listen.

Over the past several months, in markets across the U.S., there’s been a quiet rumble: Google search activity for terms like “help with mortgage” and “mortgage assistance” has soared to levels not seen in over a decade. In September 2025, those queries hit an index of highest importance, reaching a level of 98/100, their highest point since 2009. Now, interest in mortgage distress is one thing, but what matters to you as an investor is whether that interest is signaling real financial strain.

Tracking LegalShield’s data, their Foreclosure Index, which measures the volume of calls from people seeking legal help tied to foreclosures, leapt nearly 29% year over year in Q2 2025. Their headline Consumer Stress Legal Index is also at a five-year high.

That’s crucial, because legal inquiries are a stronger behavioral signal than casual Googling. Someone Googles when they’re curious; someone calls a lawyer when they’re in a serious bind. The search interest acts as the outer ring, LegalShield calls show the fire is getting closer.

So, is all this signal just noise? The numbers in the real estate trenches in Florida say it’s not. According to ATTOM tracking data, in August 2025, U.S. foreclosure filings rose 18% year over year, with foreclosures starting up about 17% and bank repossessions (REOs) jumping 41%. Florida stood out with roughly 2,800 new starts that month, placing it second among states, and 276 REOs.

What matters most is the consistency: Florida has been among the top states for foreclosure rates and new starts for multiple months. That pattern tells you it’s not a one-month fluke, deal activity is building.

The lesson here is this: when internet searches climb and legal calls ramp up, that’s a red flag turning into opportunity. As foreclosure starts grow and banks begin to reclaim properties, the distressed pipeline widens. For investors positioned to move early, especially in states like Florida, where filings and starts are rising, the window is opening.

Of course, this isn’t a replay of 2008. Many homeowners still hold equity, and underwriting quality, title diligence, and market timing still matter. But right now, those search signals are flashing “pay attention.”