Sell My House Before Foreclosure

If you are behind on your mortgage and thinking about whether to sell your house, start with the clock. The earlier you act, the more choices you keep.

Call your servicer first

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says to call your mortgage servicer right away if you cannot pay or may miss a payment. The servicer may offer refinancing, a loan modification, a repayment plan, forbearance, a short sale or a deed in lieu of foreclosure.

Free help is available. The HOPE Hotline at (888) 995-4673 and HUD-approved housing counselors do not charge for their services, and the CFPB says you do not have to pay anyone to help you avoid foreclosure. You can find a counselor through the HUD counselor locator at hud.gov/findacounselor.

The timeline

According to the CFPB, legal foreclosure generally cannot begin until your mortgage is at least 120 days past due. How long it takes to reach a sale after that varies by state.

We cannot tell you the exact date for your home. Your servicer's letters and any court papers are the place to look, and an attorney can read them with you.

Where selling fits

Some homeowners decide to sell the property rather than keep fighting for a plan to hold onto it. A sale can pay off the loan and leave you with whatever is left over, if anything. Whether and how you can sell once foreclosure has started depends on your state and your lender, so ask your servicer and an attorney before you sign anything.

If you are exploring a sale, a buyer who can move quickly and purchase as is may be worth a conversation. Be careful about anyone who asks for money up front or asks you to sign over the deed.

Getting matched

Submit the form and say plainly that foreclosure is part of the picture. We refer your details to a buyer or other professional who may contact you. We do not stop foreclosures or negotiate with lenders, and nothing here replaces advice from a housing counselor or attorney.

See our guide to selling without a realtor.

Common questions