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Facing foreclosure in California? Start with this survival kit

Foreclosure can feel like too much at once. This kit puts our most useful free guides in order, so you know what to read first. Start with the stage you are in today. If a sale date is already set, go straight to the emergency checklist.

By Guillermo Serafin, broker and owner of Serve First Realty. Updated October 2026.

Which guide should I read first?

How long does a California foreclosure take?

In the most common kind, the earliest a sale can generally happen is 3 months and 20 days after the Notice of Default is recorded, as long as all other notice rules and protections are met. Many cases take longer, but there is no one number for everyone, so do not count on an average. Our California Foreclosure Timeline Cheat Sheet walks through each step and the deadlines that matter most.

What are my choices?

You may be able to catch up, get a loan modification, sell, do a short sale, or give the home back with a deed in lieu. Each choice affects your money, credit, and taxes in a different way. Your Foreclosure Alternatives Compared puts them side by side in plain words.

How do I keep track of every call?

Write down every call, letter, and document you send. This record can protect you if papers get lost or a deadline is in doubt. Use our Servicer Call Log and Document Tracker.

How do I avoid scams?

Once your notice is public, strangers may call with offers to "save" your home. California generally prohibits borrower-paid fees for loan modification help before every promised service is fully done, and a real estate license does not create an exception. Never sign over your deed to someone who promises to stop the sale. Learn the warning signs in Foreclosure Rescue Scam Red Flags: 12 Warning Signs.

Where can I get free help?

What if the home was already sold?

What can I do today?

  • Find the dates on every notice and write them on a calendar.
  • Call your loan company at the number on your statement and ask for your options in writing.
  • Call a free HUD-approved counselor.
  • Keep copies of everything, and write down every call.
  • Look up any word you do not know in our Foreclosure Glossary in Plain English.
  • Bring our question list to your first meeting with a counselor or attorney.

General information, not legal advice. Your dates and choices depend on your loan and your situation. Sources: California Civil Code sections 2924, 2924c, and 2944.7; California Foreclosure Help Programs research, checked October 29, 2026.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

Serve First Realty is not associated with the government, and our service is not approved by the government or your lender.

Even if you accept this offer and use our service, your lender may not agree to change your loan.

Asking for a guide or giving contact permission does not stop foreclosure or extend a deadline.

Not sure where to start? Talk to us.

A free introductory call can explain our services and point you to free help. It is not legal advice. Ask a lawyer which deadlines apply to you.

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