If you’re behind on payments somewhere in the Bronx right now, you probably have more time and more options than you think. But not unlimited time. This guide walks through every stage of the New York foreclosure process clearly — so you can make decisions based on facts, not fear.
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You Didn’t Fail This House. Life Happened in It.
Most people who end up in foreclosure didn’t make reckless decisions. They lost a job. They went through a divorce. They inherited a property they didn’t ask for and couldn’t afford to maintain. They got sick. The mortgage that made sense in 2019 stopped making sense in 2023 — and by the time they realized how far behind things had gotten, the letters from the bank started arriving and the situation felt impossible.
The shame of that moment keeps people paralyzed longer than the actual foreclosure process. They don’t open the mail. They don’t return the calls. And every week of silence quietly removes one option from the list.
This guide exists to cut through the fog. New York’s foreclosure process is long — longer than most states. That means most Bronx homeowners have more runway than they realize. But the runway does end. Knowing exactly where you are in the process is the first step to knowing what you can still do about it.
The Bronx Foreclosure Timeline — Stage by Stage
New York is a judicial foreclosure state — meaning the bank must go through the court system to take your property. This process typically takes 18 months to 3+ years from first missed payment to auction. Here is every stage, what it means, and what you can still do at each one.
STAGE 1 — Day 1–90 — MAXIMUM OPTIONS
Missed Payments Begin
You’ve missed one, two, or three mortgage payments. The bank is sending notices but no legal action has been filed. This is the stage with the most options available to you. Loan modifications, repayment plans, refinancing, or a strategic cash sale are all fully available. Most homeowners don’t act here — not because options don’t exist, but because the situation doesn’t feel urgent yet. That feeling is the danger.
✓ Most options available — act here if possible
STAGE 2 — 90+ Days — OFFICIAL DEFAULT
Notice of Default & 90-Day Pre-Foreclosure Notice
After 90+ days of missed payments, New York law requires the bank to send a formal 90-Day Pre-Foreclosure Notice (RPAPL §1304). This is not a lawsuit — it is a legal notice. It includes information about housing counseling services and your rights. You still have significant options here. A cash sale can still be completed cleanly.
⚠ Notice received — time to get information, not panic
STAGE 3 — Lis Pendens — LEGAL ACTION BEGINS
Lis Pendens Filed — Lawsuit Served
The bank files a Lis Pendens with the Bronx County Clerk and serves you with a foreclosure summons and complaint. This is when foreclosure appears in the public record on ACRIS. You have 20–30 days to respond to the summons. A cash sale can still stop this process entirely if completed before a judgment is entered.
⚠ Legal action filed — response window is open
STAGE 4 — Court — SETTLEMENT CONFERENCE
Bronx Supreme Court Foreclosure Part
New York requires a mandatory settlement conference for residential foreclosures, held in Bronx Supreme Court. This is an opportunity to negotiate a loan modification, repayment plan, or short sale with the lender under court supervision. You can also sell the property during this period — proceeds pay off the mortgage and the case is discontinued.
⚠ Court process active — sale still stops the clock
STAGE 5 — Judgment — FORECLOSURE JUDGMENT
Judgment Entered — Referee Appointed
A court has entered a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale. A cash sale prior to the auction date can still pay off the judgment and stop the process — a pre-auction payoff. The window to negotiate with the lender outside court supervision has effectively closed. Time is now the most critical variable.
🚨 Judgment entered — pre-auction sale window still open
STAGE 6 — Auction — FORECLOSURE AUCTION
Property Sold at Public Auction
The property is sold at a public foreclosure auction at the Bronx County Courthouse. Once the gavel falls, your right to redeem the property is extinguished in most cases. In many Bronx foreclosure auctions, little or nothing remains for the former owner. This is the stage we need to never reach.
🚨 Critical — contact us immediately if you are here
If you’re facing foreclosure and need to move quickly, you can also sell your house fast anywhere in The Bronx without going through the auction process.
Your Options At Each Stage
If you’re somewhere between Stage 3 and Stage 5, timing matters more than price. A short conversation now can preserve options that disappear later.The stage you’re in determines which doors are still open.
Here is an honest breakdown — not what sounds hopeful, but what actually works.
OPTION 1: Loan Modification
Most viable in Stages 1–2. The bank restructures your loan terms — reduced interest rate, extended term, or deferred payments. Requires income documentation and bank approval. Timeline: 60–120 days. Best if you want to keep the property.
OPTION 2: Cash Sale (Fast)
Available in Stages 1–5. Proceeds pay off the mortgage and stop all foreclosure activity immediately. Closes in 7–14 days. No repairs, no agent, no bank delays. The most reliable option when time is limited or the property needs significant work.
OPTION 3: Short Sale
When the property is worth less than what’s owed. Bank agrees to accept less than full payoff. Requires bank approval, takes 60–120 days. Best in Stages 2–4.
OPTION 4: Traditional Listing
Viable only in Stages 1–3 with adequate time. Requires 60–90+ days on market, inspections, repairs, and a buyer who can close.
TESTIMONIAL
Six months of unopened mail. A court date I didn’t understand. A mortgage I couldn’t touch.
“I was at Stage 4, already in Bronx Supreme Court, when I finally called Keith. I thought it was over. We closed three weeks before the auction date. I protected my credit and walked away with money I didn’t expect to have. That call changed everything.”— Antonio M. | Mott Haven · Pre-auction cash sale completed
HOW A CASH SALE STOPS FORECLOSURE
The Mechanics of a Pre-Auction Payoff
STEP 1: One Honest Call
You call 718-503-2233 and speak with Keith Morris directly. We review your situation and determine how much time remains before the auction date and whether a cash closing is achievable within that window.
STEP 2: Fair Cash Offer in 24 Hours
We make a fair cash offer based on real Bronx comparable sales and current market data. You see the number and you decide. There is no pressure.
STEP 3: Title Coordination
We open title with a Bronx-based title company experienced in pre-foreclosure closings. They communicate directly with your lender to confirm the payoff amount and coordinate the closing.
STEP 4: Closing & Payoff
At closing, the lender receives the payoff amount. The foreclosure action is discontinued. If any equity remains after the payoff, it comes to you. Your credit is protected from the most serious damage.
STEP 5: You Move Forward
The property is no longer your responsibility. The court case is closed. The calls from the bank stop. You’re building from a much stronger foundation than if the auction had occurred.
What Makes Bronx Foreclosure Different
The Bronx has a distinct foreclosure landscape that out-of-state investors and national companies don’t fully understand. Bronx properties — particularly 1–5 family brick homes that have been in families for decades — carry a different kind of weight. The equity is real. The history is real. And the stakes are higher because many of these properties are generational.
The Bronx Supreme Court Foreclosure Settlement Conference Part handles a high volume of cases and can be navigated effectively with the right local knowledge. We work regularly with Bronx-based real estate attorneys who know this courtroom and can often create more runway than homeowners expect.
The Bronx County Clerk’s office on 161st Street is where Lis Pendens filings appear in the public record — another reason why acting before Stage 3 preserves privacy. Once a Lis Pendens is filed, the foreclosure becomes visible to anyone searching ACRIS, the NYC property records system.
We also work regularly with heirs and estates where the foreclosure involves a property that passed through Bronx Surrogate’s Court — situations where managing a Bronx foreclosure from Orlando, Atlanta, or Pennsylvania while navigating probate simultaneously creates an almost impossible logistical burden. We’ve solved this exact combination many times.
You’re Probably Wondering…
- “Is it too late?”
- “Will people find out?”
- “Am I going to get lowballed?”
If you’re anywhere before the auction date, you usually still have options, but the sooner we look at the timeline, the more control you keep. And this call is private. No one in your neighborhood needs to know anything. The goal is simple: clarity first, decisions second.
Bronx Foreclosure Questions Answered
How long does foreclosure take in the Bronx, NY?
New York is one of the longest foreclosure timelines in the country. From the first missed payment to a foreclosure auction in the Bronx, the process typically takes 18 months to 3 years or more. This is due to New York’s judicial requirement where the bank must file a lawsuit in Bronx Supreme Court. This extended timeline is why most Bronx homeowners have more runway than they realize, provided they act before the auction date is scheduled.
Can a cash sale stop a foreclosure auction in the Bronx?
Yes—if the closing is completed before the auction date. When the property closes, the lender receives the payoff amount from the sale proceeds and the foreclosure action is discontinued. In urgent situations, 718Homebuyers has closed Bronx pre-foreclosure sales in as little as 7–10 business days. If you have an auction date scheduled, call 718-503-2233 immediately.
Can I sell my Bronx house after a Lis Pendens is filed?
Yes. A Lis Pendens filing does not prevent a sale; it only signals that there is a legal claim on the property. A cash buyer experienced in pre-foreclosure transactions can close despite an active Lis Pendens. The sale proceeds pay off the mortgage, the lender’s claim is satisfied, and the Lis Pendens is released at closing.
What is the 90-Day Pre-Foreclosure Notice in New York?
Under New York RPAPL §1304, mortgage servicers must send a formal 90-Day Pre-Foreclosure Notice before filing a lawsuit. This is not a court filing—it is a legal notice of intent. Receiving this means your lender is preparing to file, but you still have substantial options, including a loan modification or a cash sale to 718Homebuyers.
What happens to my credit if I sell before the foreclosure auction?
A pre-auction cash sale significantly limits credit damage compared to a completed foreclosure. While missed payments will appear on your report, a Foreclosure Judgment and completed auction create a much more severe, 7-year impact on your score. Selling before the auction prevents the most damaging public records from ever being recorded.
I inherited a Bronx property in foreclosure. What are my options?
Inherited properties in foreclosure are complex but solvable. We work with Bronx Surrogate’s Court-experienced attorneys to move efficiently. A cash sale can resolve both the foreclosure and the estate distribution simultaneously, splitting proceeds among heirs without requiring repairs or a lengthy listing period. We also handle full remote closings for heirs in FL, PA, GA, and the Carolinas.
What is the Bronx Supreme Court Foreclosure Settlement Conference?
New York law requires a mandatory settlement conference for residential foreclosure cases, held at the Bronx Supreme Court Foreclosure Part. A court attorney facilitates negotiation between you and your lender. Many Bronx homeowners successfully resolve foreclosure here, but you can also sell the property during this period to discontinue the court case entirely.
How is 718Homebuyers different from other foreclosure cash buyers?
Most foreclosure mailers come from out-of-state wholesalers who found your name in public filings. Keith Morris has been buying Bronx properties directly since 2013 and has operated offices on Williamsbridge Road and Commerce Ave. When you call, you speak with Keith directly — not a call center. And if selling isn’t your best option, I’ll tell you that too.
Can the City of New York sell my house for a NYC Tax Lien?
Yes, they can. If you own a 1–3 family home in the Bronx and owe $5,000 or more in property taxes or a DEP water bill for at least three years, your property may become eligible for the NYC Tax Lien Sale. The City can sell your unpaid debt to a private trust, which then has the legal right to foreclose on your home to collect the debt. This process is separate from a bank foreclosure and can move quickly once the lien is sold. A fast cash sale to 718Homebuyers allows you to pay off the tax debt in full, stop the lien sale process immediately, and protect the remaining equity in your home before the City takes action.
“I’ve sat across the table from a lot of Bronx families in foreclosure over the years. The ones who waited the longest weren’t lazy or irresponsible — they were ashamed. They were carrying it alone. They thought calling would make it more real. What actually happened every single time was the opposite: the call made it smaller. Knowing what you’re actually dealing with — and knowing someone is in your corner — takes the weight from impossible to manageable. That’s all I’m offering. One honest conversation.”
— Keith Morris
718Homebuyers · Bronx, NY · Serving the Bronx Since 2013