Under both federal and Washington state law, a bank generally cannot start foreclosure proceedings until a homeowner is more than 120 days overdue on their mortgage payments. During this preforeclosure period, a homeowner has the opportunity to get caught up on their loan and potentially work out a loss mitigation option, such as a mortgage modification.nnHowever, if you are unable to get current on your mortgage debt, the best option might be to file for bankruptcy. As an experienced foreclosure attorney, Richard D. Granvold can help you explore your options. Give our law firm a call today to learn more about our legal services and how we can help you.