California foreclosure typically takes 200-300 days from your first missed payment to the auction. Here's the breakdown:

• Days 1-90: Missing payments, lender attempts contact
• Day 91: Notice of Default filed (starts official foreclosure)
• Day 181: Notice of Trustee Sale issued (auction scheduled)
• Day 202+: Auction occurs (21+ days after sale notice)

However, this can vary based on lender backlogs, holidays, and whether you're working with your lender on alternatives.

After receiving a Notice of Default in California, you have approximately 90 days before the Notice of Sale. During this time:

• Contact your lender immediately to discuss options
• Apply for loan modification or workout programs
• Consider selling your home quickly
• Consult with foreclosure specialists
• Gather financial documents for any applications

Don't ignore it! This is your best window for finding alternatives to foreclosure.

Yes, but your options are more limited. After the Notice of Sale, you can still:

• Reinstate your loan: Pay all missed payments plus fees until 5 business days before auction
• File bankruptcy: Creates automatic stay that stops the auction
• Sell quickly: Cash sales can close in 7-14 days
• Negotiate with lender: Some lenders will postpone for serious buyers

Time is critical - contact us immediately if you've received a Notice of Sale.

California's Homeowner Bill of Rights provides strong protections:

• Right to a single point of contact at your mortgage servicer
• Right to loan modification review before foreclosure can proceed
• Dual tracking prohibition: Lenders can't foreclose while reviewing your modification
• Right to accurate information about your loan and options
• Right to reinstate until 5 days before auction
• Right to proper notices at each stage of the process

While not required, an attorney can be valuable if:

• You believe the lender made procedural errors
• You're considering bankruptcy
• Your case involves complex legal issues
• You need help negotiating with your lender

Free alternatives: HUD-approved counselors provide free foreclosure counseling, and we offer free consultations to review your options.

For most California homeowners: No, you won't owe money after foreclosure on your first mortgage.

California is a "non-recourse" state for purchase money first mortgages on primary residences. However, you may owe money if:

• You have a second mortgage or HELOC
• You refinanced and took cash out
• The property is an investment property
• You have HOA fees or other liens

This is one reason why selling your home before foreclosure can be better - you avoid any potential deficiency issues.

Loan Modification:

• Changes terms of your existing loan
• Available even with missed payments
• Usually lowers monthly payment
• Stays with current lender
• May extend loan term

Refinancing:

• Replaces your loan with a new one
• Requires good credit and current payments
• May get better interest rate
• Can switch lenders
• Requires appraisal and underwriting

If you're behind on payments, loan modification is typically your only option between the two.

Bankruptcy can be effective but has long-term consequences. Consider bankruptcy if:

Good candidates:

• You have steady income to make modified payments
• You want to keep your home long-term
• You have significant other debts to discharge
• You can afford Chapter 13 payment plan

Bankruptcy may not help if:

• You can't afford current mortgage payments
• You're planning to move anyway
• Your income is too low for Chapter 13
• You want to preserve your credit

Always consult a bankruptcy attorney before filing to understand the full impact.

Yes, selling is almost always better than foreclosure. Here's why:

Benefits of selling:

• Less damage to your credit (stays higher for loans)
• You control the process and timeline
• May walk away with cash instead of owing money
• Avoid foreclosure appearing on background checks
• Keep your dignity and privacy

Foreclosure downsides:

• Credit score drops 200-300 points
• Public record follows you for 7 years
• Difficulty getting future loans
• Potential deficiency judgment (on some loans)

Even if you can't get full market value, selling for less is usually better than foreclosure.

Costs vary significantly by method:

• Loan Reinstatement: All missed payments + late fees + legal costs (often $10,000-50,000+)
• Loan Modification: Usually free, may require small processing fee
• Selling Your Home: $0 if you get a cash offer that covers your mortgage
• Short Sale: Usually free, lender pays most costs
• Deed in Lieu: Free, may qualify for relocation assistance
• Bankruptcy: $3,000-5,000 in attorney fees plus court costs

Free options: HUD counseling, our foreclosure consultation, and many lender workout programs cost nothing to explore.

Yes, you may get cash if your home is worth more than you owe.

Here's how it works:

• We evaluate your home's current market value
• Calculate what you owe (mortgage + fees + back payments)
• If there's equity, you get the difference at closing
• Even if you're "underwater," you avoid owing money later

Example: If your home is worth $400,000 and you owe $350,000 total, you could get $50,000 cash (minus small closing costs).

Even with no cash, stopping foreclosure protects your credit and gives you a fresh start.

You're still responsible for property taxes and insurance until the home is sold or transferred.

Important points:

• Unpaid property taxes become a lien on the property
• Your homeowner's insurance should stay active (liability protection)
• Some lenders will pay taxes/insurance and add to what you owe
• If you sell before foreclosure, these get paid at closing

Don't let these bills pile up - they can complicate your situation even more.

We can typically close in 7-14 days from the time you accept our offer.

Our process:

• Day 1: You contact us
• Day 1-2: We evaluate your property (often remotely)
• Day 2-3: We present you with a cash offer
• Day 3-7: You review and decide
• Day 7-14: We close and you get paid

If your foreclosure auction is sooner, we can often expedite the process or negotiate with your lender for additional time.

No repairs needed! We buy houses in ANY condition, including:

• Houses needing major repairs
• Homes with foundation or roof issues
• Properties with code violations
• Houses with tenant or family member issues
• Homes that need updating or modernization
• Properties with fire, water, or other damage

We handle everything: Inspections, repairs, permits, and any issues after closing. You don't spend a penny or lift a finger.

This saves you thousands in repair costs and weeks of time you don't have during foreclosure.

Yes, we can often help even if you're "underwater" on your mortgage.

Options for underwater properties:

• Short Sale: We help negotiate with your lender to accept less
• Subject-to Purchase: We take over payments in some situations
• Cash Contribution: Sometimes we can bridge small gaps
• Lender Negotiation: We work with lenders on creative solutions

Even if we can't buy directly, we can help you explore alternatives that avoid foreclosure.

Don't assume there's no solution - call us to review your specific situation.