Missed and late housing payments are on the rise as job security worries ripple through U.S. households, signaling potential headwinds for landlords and lenders, according to a new Redfin survey. Seven percent of respondents reported missing a rent or mortgage payment in the past three months, and another 10% said they were rate, as rates that climb sharply among those uneasy about their employment outlook.
Workers concerned about job security were nearly four times more likely to have avoided or delayed rent or mortgage payments than those confident in their positions. Nearly 28% of those feeling insecure about their employment reported payment trouble recently, while 70% of confident workers said they had been paid on time.
Looking ahead, 15% said they are somewhat or very likely to be late on a housing payment within the next three months and 13% expect to miss one altogether.
The financial strain is prompting households to rethink major spending decisions. More than a third of survey respondents said they are delaying big purchases due to job concerns and 7% have canceled plans altogether. At the same time, a smaller but notable share—16%—have actually accelerated major purchases as a hedge against economic volatility, with another 17% saying they plan to do so.
Despite these adjustments, overall job security sentiment remains relatively stable. About 69% of workers said they feel somewhat or very confident in their job security, compared with 27% expressing concern. These levels have shifted little since August 2025, when 66% reported confidence. Still, roughly 32% said they are more concerned about their job security than six months ago, compared with 18% who said their confidence has improved.
Among those expressing concern, company performance was the top reason cited at 29%, followed by the impact of artificial intelligence (18%), government restructuring efforts (14%) and personal performance (12%).
Redfin's findings also highlight uneven financial cushions across the workforce. More than half of workers (55%) said they have an emergency fund that could cover at least one month of housing costs, while 34% said they have none. Of those with savings, only about one in five reported having enough reserves to cover six months of payments—underscoring the potential vulnerability many renters and homeowners face if job conditions further crater.
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