Facing Foreclosure in California? Know Your Options

If you’re behind on your mortgage, the most important thing to know is this: you have more time and more options than it feels like right now. Facing foreclosure in California is stressful, but the process moves in clear stages — and at almost every stage, there’s something you can do.

How the California foreclosure timeline works

Most California foreclosures are “nonjudicial,” and they follow a set path:

  • Pre-default outreach: Your servicer must contact you (or try) at least 30 days before recording a Notice of Default.
  • Notice of Default (NOD): Once recorded, you generally have 90 days to “cure” the default — catch up on what’s owed — or work out an alternative.
  • Notice of Sale: After the 90 days, the lender can record a Notice of Sale, which sets an auction at least 21 days out.
  • Reinstate or redeem: You can typically reinstate (pay past-due amounts plus fees) up to 5 days before the sale, and pay the loan in full up until the sale date.

California’s Homeowner Bill of Rights also protects you — for example, your lender generally can’t push the foreclosure forward while a loss-mitigation application is pending (“dual tracking”).

Your options before the auction

  • Reinstate or repay: Catch up the past-due balance, or negotiate a repayment plan.
  • Loan modification or forbearance: Change the loan terms or pause payments to make them manageable.
  • Sell before the sale: If you have equity, selling lets you pay off the loan, protect your credit, and walk away with cash instead of a foreclosure on your record.
  • Short sale: If you owe more than the home is worth, a short sale may let you sell with the lender’s approval and avoid foreclosure.

How listing your home can buy you time (AB 2424)

As of January 1, 2025, California’s AB 2424 gives homeowners new leverage: listing your home for sale — or securing a purchase agreement — can trigger an automatic postponement of the sale, potentially adding up to 90 days. In other words, putting your home on the market with the right agent isn’t just an exit; it can be a way to slow the clock and protect your equity.

How we help

We approach these situations with discretion and zero judgment. We’ll give you a clear, honest read on your equity and timeline, move quickly if selling is the right path, and connect you with the right people — HUD-approved housing counselors, attorneys, and tax professionals — so you can make an informed decision with support around you.

This page is general information, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Foreclosure rules, timelines, and protections vary by situation and can change — talk to a qualified attorney, HUD-approved housing counselor, or your loan servicer about your specific case. We have a deep network of trusted professionals and are always glad to refer you to the right one — just reach out.

Let’s talk — confidentially

The earlier you reach out, the more options you have. Call (415) 407-5324 or visit primaverarealty.com for a confidential, no-pressure conversation. — Beatrice Kopilenko, REALTOR® · DRE #01970797 · Primavera Realty