Our Clients Ask Us: Length Of Foreclosure Process

Q: Our association board is considering filing a foreclosure against one of our delinquent members. Approximately how long will the entire foreclosure process take?

A: Answer: That Depends

The length of a particular foreclosure will hinge on several factors. First, the length of a foreclosure will depend on where the foreclosure is filed. When a county does not have adequate staff to handle its foreclosure docket, the process will take much longer.

Second, when an owner fails to answer a foreclosure complaint, the association can move for a default judgment, which speeds up the process. However, if the owner answers the complaint or moves for case mediation, then that will add to the total foreclosure process.

Other complications can hinder the foreclosure process, such as the owner filing for bankruptcy, which automatically stays any foreclosure action.

When a sheriff’s sale is held in a foreclosure action, there is not always a bidder, and sometimes a property must go to auction several times.

That being said, the typical foreclosure takes about 1 to 2 years to process completely. However, some foreclosures may go through in as little as 6 months or as many as several years.

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