Typically: Month 1-3
You have missed one or more payments. Lenders begin outreach, but no legal action has been filed. Under federal law, lenders cannot start foreclosure proceedings until you are at least 120 days past due.
When you're facing foreclosure, you still have a path forward. Sell2Rent's sale-leaseback program lets you sell your home fast, pay off the bank, and continue living in your house as a renter. No auction. No eviction. No moving.
Check if your home qualifies in 60 seconds
No credit check. No obligation. Cash offer in 24 hours.
The Situation in the U.S. Right Now
You are not alone. Over 367,000 U.S. properties entered some stage of foreclosure in 2025, and the majority of homeowners who reach out early enough find a clear path forward.
Sources: ATTOM Data Q4 2025 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report; ATTOM April 2026 Foreclosure Rates; CFPB Mortgage Servicing Guidelines.
Know Where You Stand
Most homeowners have more time than they expect, but that window closes fast. Don't wait until the last minute. Click any stage below to see where you stand and what you can do right now.
Typically: Month 1-3
You have missed one or more payments. Lenders begin outreach, but no legal action has been filed. Under federal law, lenders cannot start foreclosure proceedings until you are at least 120 days past due.
Typically: Month 3-6 after first missed payment
The lender files a Notice of Default, the formal and public start of the foreclosure process. In most states you now have roughly 90 days before a Notice of Sale can be recorded. This window is real and actionable.
Typically: 3-6 months after NOD
An auction date has been publicly recorded. In most states you have 20-90 days before the sale. You can still stop this. In most non-judicial states, a completed sale before the auction date legally ends the foreclosure.
Final window for a sale-leaseback
This is the tightest window for a sale-leaseback to close before the auction. We need a minimum of 3 weeks to complete a transaction. If less time remains, additional options through legal channels may still apply.
📋 Federal Protection: The 120-Day Rule
Under federal mortgage servicing rules, your lender cannot start the foreclosure process until you are more than 120 days past due. This gives most homeowners a meaningful window to explore alternatives before legal proceedings begin.
⏱ How Long Does Foreclosure Take?
The average U.S. foreclosure took 592 days in Q4 2025, but timelines vary widely by state.
Fastest states: Texas (approx. 154 days), Virginia (approx. 160 days), Wyoming (approx. 165 days)
Slowest states: Louisiana (approx. 3,461 days), Hawaii (approx. 1,760 days), Connecticut (approx. 1,600 days)
📉 Foreclosure vs. Sale-Leaseback: Credit Impact
A foreclosure typically drops your credit score by 100-160 points and stays on your report for 7 years. A sale-leaseback closes your mortgage in good standing. No foreclosure mark. No multi-year penalty.
⏰ What Happens If You Wait Too Long?
The foreclosure clock doesn't stop. Here's what the timeline typically looks like once proceedings begin.
Lender contacts begin. Late fees accumulate. Your credit score takes its first hit. This is the easiest stage to act. You still have the most options and the most negotiating room.
The lender has officially filed. This becomes public record. More fees are added to what you owe. A sale-leaseback can still stop this, but the window is narrowing and closing timelines get tighter.
The sale date is set. In many states you can still stop it, but it requires moving very fast. Reach out immediately. Every day matters at this stage.
The sooner you reach out, the more options you have. See if your home qualifies →
Find Out Where You Stand
Select the option that best describes your situation. We will show you how much time you likely have and what your clearest next steps are.
Foreclosure Stage Checker
For general guidance only. Call us for a personal conversation about your specific situation.
✓ You are in the earliest stage and have the most options available.
Estimated time before legal proceedings: 30-90+ days (varies by state)
Your best moves right now:
A Notice of Default has been filed. Your window is real. Reach out within 30 days.
Estimated time to auction: 90-180 days in most states (varies by state law)
Your best moves right now:
An auction date is set. Call us today so we can assess your timeline together.
You have more than 3 weeks. A sale-leaseback closing is still possible.
Your best moves right now:
This is a tight window. Let us talk through what is still possible together.
With fewer than 3 weeks, a sale-leaseback closing may not be possible, but other options exist.
Your best moves today:
Understanding Sale-Leaseback
A residential sale-leaseback is a transaction where you sell your home to an investor and immediately remain in it as a renter. The sale proceeds pay off your mortgage in full at closing, stopping foreclosure entirely. No auction. No eviction. No moving.
Unlike a short sale, which sells below market value and requires you to move out, a sale-leaseback sells at fair market value and lets you stay in the home you know, in the neighborhood your family is part of.
Most Sell2Rent transactions close in 30 to 45 days. You choose your lease term at closing, from 1 month to 5 years. Learn more about how our sale-leaseback works.
Simple 3-Step Process
Most homeowners complete the Sell2Rent process in 30 to 45 days. No credit check. No repairs. No public listing.
Share basic details about your property and your situation. We work with homeowners in all 50 states. See if your home qualifies.
Takes 5 minutesYour home is presented to our nationwide network of vetted investors. You receive multiple offers and choose the one that fits your price, timeline, and lease needs.
You pick the offer that fitsAt closing, the mortgage is paid off in full, ending the foreclosure. You sign a lease and continue living in your home. Same house. Same neighborhood. Same life.
Most close in under 30 daysWhat Happens After You Contact Us?
Compare Your Options
A clear look at the most common paths homeowners facing foreclosure consider, so you can make the choice that is right for you.
| Feature | Sell2Rent Sell and Stay |
Short Sale | Deed in Lieu | Foreclosure Auction | Bankruptcy Stay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| You stay in your home | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | Temp. |
| Sells at fair market value | ✔ | ✘ Below market | ✘ | ✘ Often discounted | N/A |
| No credit score damage | ✔ | Partial | ✘ Like foreclosure | ✘ -100 to -160 pts, 7 yrs | Partial |
| No credit check required | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | N/A | N/A |
| Stops foreclosure timeline | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | Temporarily |
| You receive cash equity | ✔ | ✘ | ✘ | If surplus | ✘ |
| Speed to resolution | 30-45 days | 3-6 months | 1-3 months | Varies | Filed same day |
| Mortgage and taxes eliminated | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ |
A sale-leaseback is the only path that provides fair-market cash, stops the foreclosure, eliminates ownership costs, and lets you stay in your home. See frequently asked questions
Real Homeowner Stories
Homeowners across the country have used Sell2Rent to find a path forward and stay in the homes they worked so hard for.
Chasity was about to lose her home to foreclosure. Instead of moving out, she used Sell2Rent.
★★★★★
"Sell2Rent did a great job assisting me. The process was smooth and fast. I was behind on my mortgage and did not know what to do. They gave me a real solution."
Amber M.
Miami, FL
★★★★★
"Sell2Rent was a great experience. They helped us so much and the process moved very quickly. I finally have peace of mind knowing I can stay in my home."
Lori Moore
Cincinnati, OH
Got Questions? We Have Answers.
You have worked hard for that equity. This is how you put it to work, on your terms, without leaving the home you love.