Foreclosure occurs when a homeowner is unable to make their mortgage payments on time and has no way to catch up on the missed payments. Because a mortgage is a legal agreement between you and your lender, once you’ve defaulted on the loan, the lender can auction off the property to cover any outstanding debts, leaving you homeless and with terrible credit. In practice, foreclosure is a process, not a single event. It typically begins with late fees and collection calls, followed by a Notice of Default or equivalent letter, and—if unresolved—a sale/auction date is scheduled. During this timeline, you may still have options: requesting a reinstatement (bringing the loan current), negotiating a repayment plan or loan modification, applying for forbearance, pursuing a short sale if you owe more than the home is worth, or selling before the auction to pay off the loan and stop the proceedings. Foreclosure can damage your credit for years, increase housing costs, and, in some states, expose you to deficiency balances if the sale doesn’t cover what’s owed. Property taxes, HOA dues, and legal fees can also add up quickly, making delays costly. If you’re behind, act fast: gather your mortgage statements, ask your servicer for a written payoff and reinstatement quote, verify any HOA restrictions, and speak with a qualified real-estate professional or attorney. Clear communication and a credible plan—especially a signed purchase contract with a realistic closing date—can sometimes prompt the lender to postpone an auction while you finalize the solution.

No one wants to receive a notice of foreclosure and yet, in a nationwide study, nearly 1 million Americans were afraid of losing their homes (U.S. Census Bureau Household Pulse Survey, fielded from July 27 to Aug. 8, 2022). Foreclosure can occur from a number of reasons, including:

• Job loss and loss of income
• Divorce or death of a spouse or partner
• Mounting debt, including medical and credit cards
• Moving without being able to sell the home
• Natural disaster

Viera Investment Group LLC is a local company operating in Can I Sell My Home if It’s in Foreclosure in Florida ? that has built their business by buying distressed houses and properties in the area for cash. They promise competitive cash offers without the hassle of dealing with real estate agents, title companies, traditional bank financing, and more!

What is Foreclosure?

Let’s say you or your spouse recently lost your job. You still have the same bills to pay but unfortunately you don’t have the money to cover your expenses, including your mortgage payment. What happens now? Even if you find another job the amount of debt you’ve accrued during that time might be too large for you to pay off in a reasonable amount of time. When this happens, the bank starts the process of foreclosure.

How Long Do You Have To Get Out of Your House After Foreclosure?

The steps for foreclosure in most states are missed payments, public notice, foreclosure, auction, and eviction, but the amount of time for each step varies based on state. You could have anywhere from 120 days to nine months before the bank can foreclose using either a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure. During this time, your lender will reach out to you by phone, mail, and email to let you know about the process.

In many places, the timeline starts with late fees and collection notices, then a formal Notice of Default (or similar) is recorded and mailed. From there, the lender schedules a sale/auction date if the default isn’t cured. In judicial states, the lender files a lawsuit and obtains a court order to foreclose; this can take longer but offers more opportunities to respond or negotiate. In non-judicial states, the deed of trust allows the trustee to proceed without court, often moving faster with strict notice requirements. Throughout, you may have the right to reinstate (catch up missed payments plus fees), apply for a repayment plan, loan modification, or forbearance, or list and sell the property before the auction. Some states also provide a redemption period after the sale. If the home sells and you don’t vacate, the buyer can request an eviction order; in practice, many occupants negotiate “cash-for-keys” to relocate peacefully. Acting early—requesting written payoff/reinstatement quotes, keeping all notices, and communicating a credible plan—can slow or stop the process and protect your options.

The Different Types of Foreclosure

There are two different types of foreclosure you may experience: nonjudicial foreclosure or judicial foreclosure.

How to Sell Your House Before Foreclosure in Can I Sell My Home if It’s in Foreclosure in Florida ?

Let’s break down a few ways you can sell your house, depending on your time frame and situation:

Hire A Real Estate Agent

The first step most Americans think of when selling a house or property is to reach out to a local real estate agent. But there are pros and cons to this option when you’re in a difficult situation such as foreclosure. Sure, a good agent can list your property on the MLS, coordinate photos and showings, market to buyers, and negotiate offers. They do all of this work with the goal of maximizing price—but at the end of the closing process, a large chunk of your proceeds is reduced by the agent’s commission plus buyer credits and closing costs. When you’re already juggling arrears, late fees, and legal expenses, a commission of 3% to 6% of the final sale price can feel impossible to part with.

Timing is another major concern. Even with an aggressive pricing strategy, a traditional listing can involve prep time, repairs, staging, open houses, and back-and-forth negotiations. Once under contract, you still face contingencies—inspection repair requests, appraisal shortfalls, and lender underwriting. Any one of these can delay or kill the deal. Most financed buyers need 30–45 days to close; some take longer if there are title issues, HOA approvals, or second-lien payoffs. If you’re staring at a scheduled auction date, that uncertainty can be risky.

This doesn’t mean agents are a bad choice—if you have adequate time, equity, and the home shows well, a skilled agent can often net you more. But if your priority is certainty and speed, you may prefer alternatives: a cash sale with a short inspection window, a short sale (if you’re underwater and your lender will approve), or creative options that allow a buyer to take over payments while bringing the loan current. The key is matching your strategy to your deadline and payoff figures so you stop the foreclosure clock and keep as much equity as possible.

Short Sale

If you owe more on your house than it’s worth, your realtor may require what is called a short sale. A short sale is necessary when you owe more on your house than the property is currently worth. For example:  if you owe $200,000 on your house but in the current market it’s only worth $150,000, you must deal with a short sale. Though it may seem like a good option, it won’t be fast or easy.

To start off, you’ll first need to get your lender’s approval. To qualify for a short sale, you must prove financial hardship using documentation such as W-2s, medical bills, etc. For a situation such as loss of income, the lender will require that you prove that the loss of income is long-term and unlikely to turn around in your favor. If the lender approves the short sale, you will need to find a real estate agent and attorney that specialize in short sales, and they will still charge you the same amount as they would if you were selling your house with a traditional home sale.

If your foreclosure hasn’t dragged on for too long and you’ve maintained contact with your lender, it’s likely that they will approve the short sale. This allows them to avoid the time and expense of trying to foreclose on your property, while still recouping some of the loss from the missed mortgage payments. But for the regular American homeowner, the short sale will follow them for the next 5 to 7 years. 

You may have sold the house and been able to pay off some of your debt, but the short sale can damage your credit the same as if you had declared bankruptcy. The credit unions include the delinquency on your mortgage(s) to your lenders and the short sale on their records, making it nearly impossible for previous homeowners to get a credit card, buy a car, or move into a new house or property for the same amount of time as a bankruptcy.

Sell Your House AS-IS to A Cash Buyer

If you’re under a strict time restraint to sell your house before a foreclosure progresses to auction and eviction, you do have options! You can try to sell your property with a real estate agent, work with your lender to complete a short sale, or – best of all – turn to a trusted and reliable cash investor to help you with your situation.

Some of the benefits of selling to a direct cash investor include:

• A quick and pain-free closing process.
• Avoid paying any commissions or fees.
• You won’t have to worry about marketing your house and waiting for a buyer.
• No need to clean-up or complete any repairs!

When you sell your home as-is to a direct cash buyer, you not only can avoid losing your home to an auction, but you also may be able to sell the property for enough money to get out of financial debt. Moving on with your life without the burden of a monthly mortgage payment and debt hanging over your head is one of the best gifts you can give yourself!

How “Subject-To” Can Help in Pre-Foreclosure

When you’re in pre-foreclosure in , Florida , time and certainty matter more than anything. A Subject-To solution (often written “Sub-To”) lets a buyer purchase your home subject to the existing mortgage—meaning your current loan stays in place and the buyer agrees to make the payments going forward. Done correctly, this can stop the pre-foreclosure clock, prevent an auction, and protect far more of your credit and equity than letting the process run its course.

How it works, in plain English
Instead of paying off your old loan at closing, the buyer leaves it in place and begins making the monthly payments. You transfer title, the buyer brings the loan current (reinstatement) and covers closing costs, while you avoid a completed foreclosure. In many cases, the buyer uses a third-party loan servicer to draft payments, escrow taxes/insurance, and provide transparent statements so everyone can verify the loan is being paid on time.

Why it helps sellers in pre-foreclosure

• Speed & certainty: Sub-To can close fast—often in days, not months—because the buyer isn’t applying for a new mortgage that needs appraisal and underwriting.
• Stops the clock: Reinstating the arrears and scheduling on-time payments immediately halts the march toward an auction date.
• Credit preservation: Avoiding a foreclosure mark on your credit is huge. Late payments may remain, but preventing the final foreclosure event can make future housing and financing much easier.
• Less money out of pocket: If you’re short on cash for repairs or concessions, Sub-To can work “as-is” with minimal prep.
• Flexible equity options: If you have equity, you might receive cash at closing and/or a carryback note paid later (for example, upon refinance or resale). If you don’t have equity, Sub-To can still spare you a deficiency judgment risk in certain situations (consult a local attorney).

Key parts of a solid Sub-To structure

• Reinstatement & payoff quotes: Get written figures from your servicer so everyone knows exact arrears, fees, and per-diem interest.
• Third-party servicing: Neutral servicer collects from the buyer, pays the lender, and sends monthly statements to you and the buyer.
• Escrow reserves: Extra cushion for taxes, insurance, and HOA dues prevents accidental lapses.
• Insurance update: Convert to appropriate coverage (e.g., a landlord policy naming you and the lender as additional insured/mortgagee).
• HOA and municipal compliance: Verify rental rules, transfer fees, violations, and utility liens early to avoid last-minute surprises.
• Clear exit plan: The buyer typically plans to refinance or resell later; your equity note (if any) can be paid then or upon hitting triggers like 70% LTV / 30% equity.

What about the “due-on-sale” clause?
Most mortgages have it. Experienced investors mitigate this with correct titling, proper insurance, third-party servicing, and consistent on-time payments. In practice, lenders care most about performance—but you should still discuss specifics with a knowledgeable professional in Florida .

Simple seller timeline in , Florida

1. Gather statements and any default/auction notices.
2. Request reinstatement and payoff quotes.
3. Review a written Sub-To offer covering arrears, servicer details, insurance, and your equity, if applicable.
4. Close with a reputable title/escrow company; servicer initiates drafts; lender is kept current.
5. Receive documentation each month confirming payments, and move forward without the threat of foreclosure.

If you’re inside 30–60 days of a sale date, a well-structured Subject-To can be the fastest, most protective path to stop pre-foreclosure and preserve your future options in Florida .

Can You Stop Foreclosure Once it Starts?

Sell Your House Fast to a Cash Buyer 

Are you ready to sell your house but don’t have the time to wait 30+ days for a traditional close? Does a short sale seem like a fast way to ruin your credit? Prefer to pay off all your debt at once and get the bank off your back fast? A direct home buyer and cash investor might be exactly the solution you’ve been searching for! When you work with a trusted and reliable investor with a great reputation in your area, you’ll find a helpful company with cash on hand that is ready to purchase your home from your as-is. With a cash buyer, you can skip the lengthy process of foreclosure, eviction, and auction within a matter of days, and save your credit as well!

You may not get full market value for your house or property when you sell to a trusted cash investor, but the timeliness of a fast closing, and the lack of fees, required inspections, and commissions often balance this out at close. Best of all, because an investor can close fast, you can often close before the bank is able to auction off your property! This means you can sell the property for the amount that benefits you versus the pennies to the dollar price the bank will often try to sell your house for just to get it off the books.