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Selling a house in foreclosure: know your options first.

Foreclosure is stressful, but you often have more choices than it feels like. Here is a calm look at what to know and who can help.

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Money pressure

Understand your situation first.

If you have received a foreclosure notice, it can feel like everything is moving too fast. Take a breath. In many cases you still own the home until a foreclosure sale happens, and there may still be ways to keep it or to leave on better terms. Your lender or servicer, a free HUD-approved housing counselor, and a local attorney can all help you understand where you stand.

This page explains the basics of the foreclosure process, the main alternatives, and how a sale might fit if keeping the home is not realistic. Selling is one option among several. Doorbloom cannot stop a foreclosure and does not buy homes. If you decide to explore a sale, we can connect you with independent investors and real estate professionals, alongside the help available from your servicer and housing counselors.

What to know

Things to think through.

1

The process varies by state

Some states handle foreclosure through the courts, and others allow it outside of court. Notice requirements, timelines, and any right to catch up or buy back the home differ from state to state. A local attorney or housing counselor can tell you what applies where you live.

2

Talk to your servicer about loss mitigation

Servicers may offer options such as a repayment plan, forbearance, a loan modification, a short sale, or a deed in lieu of foreclosure. Applying for help can bring certain federal protections, depending on timing. Keep copies of everything you send and receive.

3

Your equity matters

If the home is worth more than what you owe plus selling costs, a sale may let you pay off the loan and keep the difference. If you owe more than it is worth, a sale would generally need the lender's approval as a short sale. Knowing roughly where you stand helps you choose a path.

4

The foreclosure sale date

You can generally sell the home up until the foreclosure sale, but the sale has to be completed and the loan paid in time. Ask your servicer for the scheduled sale date and keep them informed if you have a buyer. A servicer may sometimes agree to postpone a sale, but that is not something to count on.

5

Watch for foreclosure rescue scams

Be cautious of anyone who charges upfront fees, promises to stop a foreclosure, tells you to stop paying your servicer, or asks you to sign over your deed. The FTC and CFPB both warn about these schemes. Real help is available free or at low cost from HUD-approved housing counselors.

Your options

There is more than one path.

Work out a solution with your servicer

A repayment plan, forbearance, or loan modification may let you keep the home. These options take paperwork and patience, and approval is not certain. A HUD-approved housing counselor can help you prepare and submit an application.

Sell with an agent or through a short sale

If you have equity and enough time, listing on the open market may bring the highest price. If you owe more than the home is worth, a short sale needs lender approval and can take a while. An agent experienced with foreclosure situations can explain what is realistic.

Explore offers through Doorbloom

You can share your home's details for free and hear from independent investors and real estate professionals, which some homeowners find simpler, especially when a home needs work. Offers may be below open-market value. Doorbloom cannot stop a foreclosure, and any sale still has to be completed and the loan paid before the foreclosure sale.

How it works

Three clear steps.

  1. 1

    Tell us about your home

    Share the address, condition and your timeline. It takes about a minute, and we only ask what is needed for the next step.

  2. 2

    Review who is interested

    Real estate investors and professionals review your home. You see who they are before anyone gets your contact details.

  3. 3

    Choose your next step

    Talk to the people you want, compare your options, or decide not to sell. There is no pressure and no obligation.

Practical next steps

Where to start.

  1. 1Open every letter from your servicerNotices can include deadlines and options. Keep them together in one place.
  2. 2Call a HUD-approved housing counselorCounseling is free or low cost and independent of your lender. You can search for an agency through the CFPB.
  3. 3Ask your servicer about options and datesAsk which loss mitigation programs are available, what documents they need, and whether a foreclosure sale has been scheduled.
  4. 4Get a sense of your equityCompare your loan payoff amount with what similar homes nearby are worth. This shows whether a sale could leave you with money afterward.
  5. 5Talk to a local attorneyForeclosure law varies by state, and bankruptcy may be an option for some people. Legal aid organizations may offer free help if you qualify.

Questions

Your questions, answered.

Can I sell my house if it's already in foreclosure?

In many cases, yes, up until the foreclosure sale. The sale must be completed and the lender paid in time, and if you owe more than the home is worth, the lender has to approve a short sale. Your servicer and a local attorney can confirm your timeline.

How long does the foreclosure process take?

It varies widely by state and situation. Under federal rules, the legal process generally cannot begin until you are at least 120 days behind on payments. After that, the time until a foreclosure sale depends on your state's process.

What is the difference between a short sale and a deed in lieu?

In a short sale, you sell the home for less than you owe and the lender agrees to accept the proceeds. In a deed in lieu of foreclosure, you transfer the home back to the lender. Both need lender approval, and how any remaining balance is handled should be confirmed in writing.

Will selling my house stop the foreclosure?

A completed sale that pays off the loan ends the foreclosure, because the debt is paid. Listing the home or accepting an offer does not stop it on its own. Keep your servicer updated and keep pursuing other options until the sale is done.

How does Doorbloom work if I'm facing foreclosure?

You can tell us about your home for free, with no obligation, and independent investors and professionals can review it. You decide who, if anyone, to talk to. Doorbloom does not buy homes, make offers, or stop foreclosures, so please also talk with your servicer and a HUD-approved housing counselor.

Is Doorbloom buying my house?

No. Doorbloom is a platform that connects US homeowners with real estate investors and professionals. Any offer comes from them, and nothing is binding until you sign a purchase agreement.

What does it cost?

Creating an account and telling us about your home is free for homeowners.

Who sees my information?

Professionals can see details about your home. Your name, email and phone number are only shared with people you choose to connect with.

Helpful resources

Independent help and information.

CFPB: Find a Housing CounselorSearch HUD-approved housing counseling agencies near youCFPB: If I can't pay my mortgageServicer options, from forbearance to short sale, plus scam signsCFPB: How long before foreclosureWhen the legal foreclosure process can generally beginFTC: Skip the scamsWarning signs of foreclosure and mortgage relief scams

Related situations

Foreclosure by state

More cities in each state are listed in areas we serve.

Explore the next step when you are ready.

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