You have more time and options than you think
First, take a breath. Falling behind on a mortgage is scary, but a missed payment is not the same as losing your home tomorrow. Foreclosure in California is a legal process with required steps and waiting periods — and at nearly every step you still have the right to catch up, work something out with your lender, or sell the house before the auction. The earlier you start, the more choices you have. So start now, even if all you do today is open the mail you've been avoiding.
You're not the first person in Bakersfield to face this, and you have more options than the lender's first letter suggests. Let's walk through what's actually happening and what you can do.
How foreclosure works in California
Most California homes are financed with a deed of trust rather than a traditional mortgage, which means foreclosure is usually non-judicial — the lender doesn't have to file a court case to foreclose. That makes it faster and cheaper for them, but it also means the timeline follows a set of statutory steps you can plan around.
Before filing anything, the lender (or their servicer) generally has to make a good-faith effort to contact you about keeping the home — often a 30-day notice — as required by California's foreclosure-prevention rules.
Once you're past that and the default isn't cured, the process typically looks like this:
- Notice of Default (NOD) is recorded in Kern County and mailed to you. This is the formal start of the foreclosure.
- At least 3 months must pass after the NOD is recorded before the lender can record a Notice of Trustee's Sale.
- After that notice is recorded, the sale must be at least about 20 days out, with published and posted notice.
- That adds up to a minimum of roughly 4 months from the Notice of Default to the auction — and most cases run longer.
The exact dates appear on the notices you receive — read them. That "sale date" is the hard deadline you're working against, and every option below is about moving before it arrives.
Ways to stop or avoid it
You have several paths, and more than one can apply at the same time:
Call your lender about a workout
Ask about a repayment plan, forbearance, or loan modification. Lenders often prefer keeping you in the home to foreclosing — but you have to pick up the phone and ask before the deadline to respond on your notice.
Reinstate the loan
Catch up on the missed payments, fees, and costs to bring the loan current. In California you can usually reinstate up until 5 business days before the trustee's sale, even while the foreclosure is in motion.
Talk to a HUD-approved housing counselor
Free, nonprofit counselors approved by HUD can review your options, help you talk to your lender, and steer you away from scams. There's no charge for this help.
Short sale
If you owe more than the home is worth, the lender may agree to a short sale — accepting less than the full balance to release the loan. This needs the lender's approval and usually takes longer.
Sell before the auction
If you have equity, sell the house yourself before the sale date and keep what's left after paying off the loan. A fast cash sale can often close in time when a traditional listing can't.
Why selling before the auction can protect you
The biggest reason to sell before the foreclosure sale is simple: you keep your equity. If the house sells at auction for less than you owe, the equity you built over years can disappear with it. When you sell on your own timeline, you set the price and the closing date, and anything left after the loan is paid off stays yours.
The second reason is your credit. A completed foreclosure is one of the most damaging entries that can appear on your credit report, and it stays there for years. A sale — even a short one — avoids that mark entirely. You walk away with cash and a clean slate instead of a foreclosure on your record.
Watch out for foreclosure scams
When you're behind on payments, offers start showing up — in the mail, on your door, and online. Some are real help. Many are not. Two rules will keep you out of trouble:
- Never pay anyone upfront to 'save' your home or stop the foreclosure. A real housing counselor's help is free, and a legitimate attorney bills for work done, not a fee collected before anything happens.
- Never sign over your deed to a stranger or a company promising to 'fix' the foreclosure while you stay in the home. That can hand them your house and still leave you owing the loan.
If an offer feels off, it probably is. Before signing anything, run it past a HUD-approved housing counselor or a California attorney. That second look is free or cheap — and it can save your home.
How Bakersfield House Buyers helps
If the auction date is close and a traditional sale won't move fast enough, here's what working with us looks like:
- A fair cash offer, often within 24 hours of seeing the property.
- Close in as little as 10 days — fast enough to beat a scheduled auction date.
- We buy the house as-is, so you skip repairs, cleanup, and showings.
- Zero fees and zero commissions — the offer is what you see.
- We've helped Bakersfield homeowners stop the clock since 2015, and we can coordinate with your lender on the payoff.
Facing a sale date? Get a cash offer today
Tell us about the property and your timeline. We'll get a fair, no-obligation cash offer back to you quickly — often in time to stop the sale.
Frequently asked questions
How long does foreclosure take in California?
For a typical non-judicial foreclosure on a deed of trust, the minimum timeline is about 4 months from the recorded Notice of Default to the trustee's sale — at least 3 months before the Notice of Trustee's Sale can be recorded, then at least about 20 days from that notice to the sale. Most take longer in practice, which gives you time to act.
Can I sell my house if I'm already in foreclosure?
Yes. You can sell your house right up until the trustee's sale, as long as the sale closes before the auction and pays off what you owe the lender. Selling before the auction lets you keep any equity and avoid a foreclosure on your credit.
Will selling stop the foreclosure?
If the sale pays off your loan in full before the auction, the foreclosure stops because there's nothing left to foreclose on. The key is timing — a cash offer that closes quickly can often beat the sale date when a traditional listing can't.
What if I owe more than the house is worth?
If you're underwater, a short sale may be an option — the lender agrees to accept less than the full balance to release the loan. Talk to your lender and a HUD-approved housing counselor first, because a short sale needs their approval.
Should I pay someone to help me stop the foreclosure?
Be careful. You should never pay upfront for someone to 'save' your home, and never sign over your deed to a stranger promising to fix things — both are common foreclosure rescue scams. Free help is available from HUD-approved housing counselors, and a California attorney can review any offer.
More guides
Selling an Inherited House
Probate in Kern County
Cash Offer vs. Listing with an Agent
A side-by-side look
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. Talk to a HUD-approved housing counselor or a California attorney about your situation.