# How Long Does Foreclosure Take in California? **Most California foreclosures take at least about four months from the Notice of Default to the auction. The lender has to wait at least three months after recording the Notice of Default, then give at least 20 days' notice before the trustee's sale, and postponements often stretch it longer. You can usually catch up on the loan until five business days before the sale, and you can sell the house any time before the auction.** The California foreclosure timeline, step by step Missed payments and the 30-day contact rule. For a home you live in (up to four units, first mortgage), the lender has to contact you, or try hard to, at least 30 days before it can record a Notice of Default. Notice of Default. The lender records it with the county recorder. It starts the clock. It must warn you in capital letters that your home may be sold without any court action. At least three months of waiting. The next notice can’t come until three months after the Notice of Default is recorded. If you haven’t caught up within 30 days, you also get a “YOU ARE IN DEFAULT” letter in the mail. Notice of Trustee’s Sale. At least 20 days before the auction it must be posted on your door, posted in a public place, published in a newspaper once a week for three weeks, and recorded with the county. The reinstatement deadline. You can usually bring the loan current by paying what’s past due, plus allowed fees, until five business days before the sale date in the first notice of sale. The auction (trustee’s sale). If nothing changes, the house is sold at auction. Sales are often postponed, which moves the date later. After the sale. For homes with one to four units, the sale isn’t final right away: tenants and certain other buyers have a window of 15 to 45 days to make an offer. After a non-court foreclosure, the former owner generally has no right to buy the house back. What can pause the process If you send your servicer a complete loan modification application at least five business days before a scheduled sale, the law says it can’t move ahead with the foreclosure while the application is being reviewed. If you are approved for a modification, forbearance or repayment plan and keep to it, no Notice of Default can be recorded. A HUD-approved housing counselor can help with these options for free. Where your notices are recorded Fresno County: County Recorder, 1250 Van Ness Ave, Fresno Kings County: Clerk/Recorder, Government Center, 1400 W. Lacey Blvd, Hanford Tulare County: Clerk-Recorder, Government Plaza, 5951 S. Mooney Blvd, Visalia Kern County: County Recorder, 1530 Truxtun Ave, Bakersfield Antelope Valley (Los Angeles County): Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, Lancaster branch, 44509 16th St. West This page is general information about California law, not legal advice, and it does not promise any result. Your dates depend on your loan and your notices. For advice on your situation, talk to a California attorney or a HUD-approved housing counselor. ## Common worries in this situation - You got a Notice of Default in the mail - A Notice of Trustee's Sale was taped to your door - You don't know how much time you have left - The lender keeps calling and you don't know what to say ## How Equity ResQ helps Selling is one way to keep the equity you’ve built instead of losing it at auction. We can look at your house, make a cash offer, and close around your sale date when the timing works. The sooner you reach out, the more options you have. --- Equity ResQ buys houses for cash in any condition. Get a no-obligation cash offer: (661) 466-4777 | info@equityresq.com | https://equityresq.com/contact/ [Site overview for agents](https://equityresq.com/llms.txt)