Table of Contents

Right of Foreclosure

By

James Chen

Updated May 14, 2022

Reviewed by

Ebony Howard

Fact checked by

Katrina Munichiello

What Is the Right of Foreclosure?

The right of foreclosure describes a lender's ability to take possession of a property through a legal process called foreclosure when a homeowner defaults on mortgage payments. The mortgage’s terms will outline the conditions under which the lender has the right to foreclose. State and national laws also regulate the right of foreclosure.

Key Takeaways

The right of foreclosure allows a lender to legally foreclose on a property that is in arrears.
Exercising the right of foreclosure legally requires giving notice to the borrower.
You provide the borrower with time to make up missed payments.
The right of redemption further limits the right of foreclosure by giving borrowers additional opportunities to retain or recover their homes.
After a foreclosure occurs, most often, the lender will sell the home, sometimes at a loss.

Understanding the Right of Foreclosure

Foreclosure occurs because when a person obtains a mortgage to buy a home, the home itself serves as the collateral for the loan. Since the property acts as collateral, the homeowner agrees that they will forfeit ownership of it if they default on their payments. When a home is foreclosed upon, the lender will generally sell the property to recoup money lost on the loan.

Foreclosure takes different amounts of time depending on the terms of the mortgage, the lender’s motivation to foreclose, and local regulations. In many cases, it may take six months or more.

Once a home has been foreclosed, the lender will likely announce a foreclosure sale. These sales often put the property up for auction to the highest bidder. If the homeowner still lives at the home, they will likely face eviction through an unlawful detainer suit.

Homeowners associations may also have a right of foreclosure, which they can exercise if a homeowner fails to pay their homeowners' association fees or special assessments.

Requirements for Exercising the Right of Foreclosure

Lenders must abide by specific procedures for a foreclosure to be legal. Due to protections for homeowners' legal rights in foreclosure, lenders must provide a default notice, alerting borrowers that their loan is in default because of missed payments and notifying them of alternative loss mitigation options.

Homeowners then must be given a specified amount of time to make good on any missed payments or appeal against the foreclosure. They will likely also be required to pay late fees in addition to any outstanding balance.

Types of Foreclosure

The right of foreclosure varies among jurisdictions.

There are two different types of foreclosure: judicial foreclosure and non-judicial foreclosure. Judicial foreclosure requires filing a lawsuit in court, whereas nonjudicial foreclosure requires a power of sale clause in the mortgage note. Not all regions allow both types of foreclosure, so local laws may dictate which approach a lender uses.

A foreclosure can stay on your credit report for seven years, and impact your ability to get another mortgage in that time.

Special Considerations

The equitable right of redemption enables homeowners to redeem their mortgages by paying off the entire balance of the mortgage before a foreclosure sale. That may be done through refinancing, although obtaining a new loan could be tricky for individuals who already have a home in foreclosure.

In addition, some states have a statutory right of redemption, allowing homeowners to redeem their mortgages and keep their homes after the foreclosure sale. They can do so by paying the foreclosure sale price plus interest and other fees.

Borrowers may also be able to legally fight a foreclosure if their lender does not actually have the legal standing to foreclose. Should, for example, a lender securitize the mortgage, it may have difficulties convincing a judge not to dismiss the foreclosure.

How Long Before a Bank Can Foreclose on Your House?

Usually, you have to be at least 120 days behind on your mortgage payments before the bank begins the legal process of foreclosure.

What Is the Biggest Cause of Foreclosure?

Foreclosure occurs when borrowers become significantly behind on their mortgage payments due to financial problems and cannot afford a payment plan with the lender to keep their houses out of foreclosure.

Can I Stop Foreclosure on My House?

Before a bank sells off a foreclosed home, there are many steps homeowners can take to pay back missing payments or put together a legal appeal against the foreclosure. First, talk to your lender and see if you can make a payment plan, reach out to your local housing authority to ask for assistance, or see if a relative or friend would be willing to buy the house and then rent it back to you.

Who Has a Right of Foreclosure?

Banks and mortgage lenders have the right of foreclosure meaning they are within legal rights to take the steps necessary to gain possession of a property if the homeowner stops making payments on their mortgage. The legal process through a legal process called foreclosure.

Article Sources

Investopedia requires writers to use primary sources to support their work. These include white papers, government data, original reporting, and interviews with industry experts. We also reference original research from other reputable publishers where appropriate. You can learn more about the standards we follow in producing accurate, unbiased content in our editorial policy.

U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. "Foreclosure Process."
U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development. "Redemption."

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