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Before the sale date checklist

Answer a few questions about where you are in a foreclosure to see what to do next, in what order. Free help exists: HUD-approved housing counseling and legal aid.

Pick the furthest step that has happened. Answer the court case question below separately: a case can run at any stage.

Count from today to the sale date on your notice. Enter 0 if the sale is today. The tool reads this only when you pick a scheduled sale date.

days

How we calculated this

The checklist follows the steps named by official sources: the CFPB's mortgage help guide (ask the servicer about loss mitigation, contact a HUD-approved counselor), state court self-help pages (answer deadlines in judicial states) and FTC/state attorney general warnings on foreclosure rescue scams.

HUD-approved housing counseling for mortgage default is free or low cost, per HUD's own guidance; the HUD hotline is 800-569-4287. Method checked 2026-10-20.

Method checked on 2026-10-20.

This checklist is a guide, not legal advice. Your notice, your loan and your state's law set the real deadlines; a foreclosure lawyer or HUD-approved counselor can confirm them.

Questions

Is HUD counseling really free?
HUD-approved agencies must provide foreclosure and default counseling free or at low cost, and cannot turn you away for inability to pay. The HUD hotline is 800-569-4287.
What if I already paid a rescue company?
Stop further payments, keep every document, and report it to your state attorney general and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. A legal aid office may be able to help.
Do I have to move out before the sale?
No. In most states you can stay in the home until the sale — and often until a court orders possession. The timeline tool shows your state's process and any redemption period.

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