# Pre-Foreclosure: How It Works in Real Estate, FAQs

> **Definition**
>
> Pre-foreclosure is the initial stage of the foreclosure process where a lender issues a notice of default to a borrower who has missed mortgage payments, signaling potential repossession if debts are not resolved.

## What Is Pre-Foreclosure?

Pre-foreclosure refers to the first phase of a legal proceeding that ultimately can conclude in a property being repossessed from a defaulted borrower. The lender files a notice of default on the property in pre-foreclosure because the borrowing owner exceeds the contractual terms for delinquent payments.

A notice of default informs the borrowing owner that the mortgage lender is pursuing legal actions toward foreclosure. Borrowers have a few options available if they find themselves in pre-foreclosure. Lenders may even be willing to negotiate with them to avoid moving to the foreclosure phase.  

### Key Takeaways

*   Pre-foreclosure is a legal process that occurs before the lender repossesses a property.
*   If a homeowner is late on a certain number of payments, the lender may issue a notice of default, sending the home into pre-foreclosure.
*   Mortgage borrowers may still have some options during pre-foreclosure to save their homes.
*   A lender must go through a court proceeding to finalize a foreclosure and eviction notice.
*   Some lenders will let you make back payments to get out of pre-forclosure.

## How Pre-Foreclosure Works

When a home buyer takes out a loan to purchase a property, they sign a contract with the lending institution to repay the [mortgage](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/m/mortgage.asp) loan according to a contractual agreement, typically with monthly installments. Monthly payments are usually structured to cover a portion of principal and interest payments on the mortgage.

Standard mortgage contracts are often structured to be in default if a borrower fails to make payments for three consecutive months. At that point, the lender is usually contractually authorized to begin pre-foreclosure. When this happens, the borrower receives a copy of a notice of default, which is also made a matter of public record through a filing with the court. This action begins the pre-foreclosure process, which can take anywhere from weeks to more than a year, as it varies by state and is subject to a court proceeding.

There are several standard steps to a foreclosure proceeding. The [notice of default](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/n/notice-of-default.asp) kicks off the proceeding in the pre-foreclosure phase. In general, the lender needs court approval, which must be given by a judge, for their [lien](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/lien.asp) on a property.

Lenders are often more willing to negotiate backdated payments and possible loan modifications in the pre-foreclosure stage of a proceeding to avoid paying what can be extensive foreclosure proceeding costs. If foreclosure is granted and a foreclosure [eviction](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/e/eviction.asp) notice is authorized, the lender can move toward a public auction or trustee sale.

> **Tip**
>
> Mortgage lending discrimination is illegal. If you think you’ve been discriminated against based on race, religion, sex, marital status, use of public assistance, national origin, disability, or age, then there are steps you can take. One such step is to file a report with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

## Short Sales of Pre-Foreclosure Homes

A pre-foreclosure home that a borrower puts up for sale is typically referred to as a [short sale](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/shortsale.asp). The sale can be a private transaction between the homeowner and the buyer, but the buyer’s offer usually must be approved by the bank before the sale can be finalized. The purchase price may be less than the outstanding loan balance, [which is why the sale is said to be short](https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/09/short-selling-real-estate.asp).

Keep in mind that not all short sales are pre-foreclosures. Homeowners who know they are in trouble sometimes elect to sell their properties by any means possible before reaching pre-foreclosure. A buyer can inspect a pre-foreclosed home before making an offer on it. The buyer could be an investor looking to purchase the property for less than its fair market value (FMV) and then sell it at a higher price for a profit.

If the homeowner lists the property for sale through a real estate agent, prospective buyers will contact the listing agent. In any short sale, the lending bank will likely need to be involved and may hire one or more real estate brokers or attorneys of their own, particularly to prepare a [broker price opinion](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/broker_price_opinion.asp).

> **Important**
>
> Homeowners facing foreclosure can contact the federal Making Home Affordable Program at 888-995-HOPE (888-995-4673) for assistance with keeping their home—or, if that’s not possible, with relocating to a new home.

## Advantages and Disadvantages of Pre-Foreclosure Sales

A home can be sold [during the pre-foreclosure phase](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/08/investing-in-foreclosures.asp), which can be a win for all parties involved. By selling, the [homeowner avoids the damage](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/pf/07/avoid_foreclosure.asp) that a foreclosure would have on their credit history. The buyer can usually snag the property for below market value. The lending institution doesn’t have to pay the costs of a foreclosure proceeding or sell the property itself.

However, selling a property independently is not necessarily easy, mainly because the seller must abide by legalities and disclosure requirements. Buyers of pre-foreclosed homes will need to be aware of any [property liens](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/p/property-lien.asp) or unpaid taxes on a home because these could potentially be transferred to the new owner without full disclosure or properly documented clauses.

If the homeowner does not make the past-due (and ongoing) mortgage payments, negotiate a modification, or sell the home during the pre-foreclosure period, the lender will eventually be granted authorization of their lien on the property. When this happens, they can evict the owner, subsequently selling the property. At this point, the bank owns the property and is more likely to try to sell the property at an even lower price rather than maintain its ongoing expenses, such as taxes and insurance.

Pros

*   Selling the home may protect the homeowner from bankruptcy
    
      
    
*   A homeowner may be able to buy an affordable home after the sale
    

Cons

*   Selling during pre-foreclosure may not be easy
    
*   Failure to make up past due payments can lead to foreclosure
    
*   Having your home in pre-foreclosure can be emotionally stressful
    

## COVID-19 Mortgage Relief

There were a series of steps taken to protect struggling homeowners affected by the pandemic in 2020 and 2021, which include:

*   The [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act](https://www.investopedia.com/coronavirus-aid-relief-and-economic-security-cares-act-4800707) was signed into law on March 27, 2020, putting an [eviction and foreclosure moratorium](https://www.investopedia.com/how-to-get-mortgage-relief-4800539) in place for government-backed mortgages through Dec. 31, 2020.
*   This was extended through July 31, 2021.

The executive order also made qualifying multifamily property owners eligible for forbearance. If a claim was approved, government-backed mortgage borrowers were allowed to defer payments for up to 360 days, avoid late payment fees, avoid eviction from their home, defer any foreclosure proceedings already in process, and halt the pre-foreclosure phase for any new proceedings.

In addition, private lenders were advised to work with borrowers, making loan modifications more easily accessible. In 2021, rates fell to unprecedented lows, making refinancing a viable option for any mortgage borrower who hadn't previously refinanced. However, the [Federal Reserve sharply raised rates](https://www.investopedia.com/powell-confirms-fed-pivot-to-rate-cuts-8700557) and held them steady through much of 2024.

## What Does Pre-Foreclosure Mean?

Pre-foreclosure is an action taken by a lender to try to obtain money owed on a mortgage. A pre-foreclosure is a warning that a foreclosure may occur if debts are not resolved.

## Is My House in Pre-Foreclosure?

Before your house goes into pre-foreclosure, you will receive a legal notice of default, alerting you to risk of your house ending up in pre-foreclosure. If you haven't made payments to your mortgage in over three months, it is likely your home will fall into pre-foreclosure, as well.

## What's the Difference Between Foreclosure and Pre-Foreclosure?

A pre-foreclosure on the house occurs when a notice of default is served after getting court approval. During this phase, a homeowner may be able to negotiate with the lender to preserve the home, usually by paying off their debts. A foreclosure occurs if the lender receives the authority to serve the delinquent borrower a foreclosure eviction notice and then proceeds to [hold a public auction](https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/10/should-you-buy-at-an-auction.asp) to sell the property.

  

## The Bottom Line

Pre-foreclosure can be an important phase because the lender may be open to a last-rights negotiation on delinquent debt for the borrower. The borrower often has a final opportunity to reverse the default status by making up late payments, negotiating a modification, or possibly opting to sell the property before it reaches a final [foreclosure](https://www.investopedia.com/terms/f/foreclosure.asp) eviction.  

> **Article Sources**
>
> 1.  Electronic Code of Federal Regulations. "[§203.606 Pre-Foreclosure Review](https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/retrieveECFR?gp=1&SID=35c32a930cfc889460d5cac11819bea7&ty=HTML&h=L&mc=true&r=SECTION&n=se24.2.203_1606)."
>     
> 2.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "[Foreclosure Process](https://www.hud.gov/topics/avoiding_foreclosure/foreclosureprocess)."
>     
> 3.  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. "[Complaints](https://www.hud.gov/faqs/complaints)."
>     
> 4.  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "[Submit a Complaint](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/)."
>     
> 5.  Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. “[What Is a Short Sale?](https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-short-sale-en-290/)”
>     
> 6.  MakingHomeAffordable.gov. “[Find a Housing Counseling Expert](https://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/get-answers/get-answers-how-to-find-housing-counselor).”
>     
> 7.  Congress. "[H.R.748 - CARES Act](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748)."
>     
> 8.  The White House. "[Fact Sheet: Biden Administration Announces Additional Actions to Prevent Foreclosures](https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/07/23/fact-sheet-biden-administration-announces-additional-actions-to-prevent-foreclosures/)."
>     
> 9.  Freddie Mac. “[Mortgage Rates](http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/).”