Stop Foreclosure in Florida
If you're behind on your mortgage, you already know the weight of it. The letters keep coming, the phone keeps ringing, and maybe a lis pendens has been filed against your home. It's hard to think straight when your house is on the line. So take a breath. Foreclosure in Florida is a court process, and it moves in steps. In most cases you have more time — and more choices — than the letters make it feel like.
We're Florida Home Buyer Direct, a family-owned company that has been buying Florida houses since 2012, and we'll say this plainly: selling is not your only option. That's why we offer a free, no-obligation foreclosure-options conversation. We'll walk through loan modification, reinstatement, forbearance, bankruptcy, and selling — and help you see which path fits your situation, even if that path doesn't include us.
How we can help
Here's how a sale to us works when foreclosure is moving. First, we talk — by phone or in person — about where you actually are in the process: how far behind you are, whether a lawsuit has been filed, and whether a sale date has been set. If selling looks like the right move, we'll come see the house and give you a written cash offer within 24 hours of seeing the property. No repairs, no cleaning, no showings.
Because we buy with cash, there's no lender approval, no appraisal, and no financing that can fall through — which matters when the clock is running. We can often close in as little as 7-14 days. At closing, the title company pays your mortgage, past-due amounts, and foreclosure costs directly out of the sale proceeds. If there's equity left after the payoff, that money goes to you.
You don't have to face the bank alone or figure out the payoff yourself. We work with the title company to order the payoff figures, coordinate with your lender's attorney when needed, and keep you posted at every step. We pay all normal closing costs, and there are no commissions or fees. You pick the closing date — and if you need a few extra days to move, tell us and we'll build it into the plan.
What you should know about how this works in Florida
Florida is a judicial foreclosure state. That means your lender can't simply take the house — it has to file a lawsuit in circuit court and win a judgment first. Under federal mortgage-servicing rules, a lender generally can't even start the lawsuit until you're more than 120 days behind on payments. The case usually begins when the lender files a complaint and records a lis pendens — a public notice of the lawsuit — in the county records.
Once you're served with the lawsuit, you generally have 20 days to file a written response with the court. From there, the case typically takes months to move through hearings and, if the lender wins, a final judgment of foreclosure. The judgment sets an auction date, often several weeks out. Timelines vary a lot by county and by whether the case is contested, so treat any specific number you read online as a rough guide, not a promise.
Even after a final judgment, Florida law gives you a right of redemption. Under Section 45.0315 of the Florida Statutes, you can generally stop the sale by paying the full judgment amount at any time before the clerk files the certificate of sale, or before a deadline set in the judgment. In practice, this means many homeowners can still sell the house — and pay off the loan from the proceeds — right up until the auction actually happens. The closer the sale date gets, the less room there is to work, so earlier is always easier.
This is general information, not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, talk with a Florida attorney or a HUD-approved housing counselor.
Your options — honestly, selling to us is only one of them
Selling isn't the only way out, and it isn't always the best one. If you want to keep the house, ask your lender about reinstatement (paying the past-due amount to bring the loan current), a loan modification (changing the loan's terms so the payment becomes workable), or forbearance (a temporary pause or reduction in payments). A HUD-approved housing counselor can help you apply, free of charge. Filing bankruptcy can also temporarily pause a foreclosure through the automatic stay — talk to a Florida attorney before considering that route.
If you'd rather sell and you have time and equity, listing with a real estate agent may put more money in your pocket than our offer. A retail buyer often pays more, though the sale takes longer and can fall through if financing or inspections go sideways. Our offer pays for speed and certainty: it accounts for repairs and resale risk, so it will usually be below full market value. We'd rather tell you that upfront than have you find out later.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still sell my house if foreclosure has already started?+
In most cases, yes. Florida law generally lets you pay off the loan — including through a sale — any time before the clerk files the certificate of sale after the auction. A lawsuit, or even a final judgment, doesn't take away your ownership; only a completed foreclosure sale does. The tighter the timeline, the harder it gets, so reach out as early as you can. We're not attorneys — for legal advice, talk to a Florida attorney or a HUD-approved housing counselor.
Will selling my house actually stop the foreclosure?+
Yes — if the sale closes and the loan is paid in full before the foreclosure sale is complete, the case ends because there's nothing left to foreclose on. The title company pays the lender directly at closing. What matters is closing in time, which is why a cash sale with no financing conditions can make the difference when a sale date is getting close.
What happens to my equity if the house goes to auction?+
The auction price first pays the judgment, interest, and costs — and courthouse auctions often bring less than a private sale would. If there's money left over, that surplus is yours to claim through the clerk, but there may be little or none. Selling before the auction usually protects more of your equity, because you control the price and the payoff.
Do I have to sell my house to avoid foreclosure?+
No. Reinstatement, loan modification, forbearance, and bankruptcy are all real options, and for some homeowners one of them is the better path. That's the whole point of our free options conversation — we'll help you compare the paths honestly, and if keeping the house makes more sense, we'll tell you so. We're not attorneys — for legal advice, talk to a Florida attorney or a HUD-approved housing counselor.
What if I owe more than the house is worth?+
Then a normal sale can't fully pay off the loan, and any sale would need your lender's written approval — commonly called a short sale. Short sales are possible but slower, because the lender has to agree to accept less than it's owed. We can talk honestly about whether that's realistic in your case, and a housing counselor or Florida attorney can help you weigh it against your other options.
Is the foreclosure-options conversation really free?+
Yes. No cost, no obligation, and no pressure. We'll ask about your loan, your timeline, and what you want to happen, then lay out the realistic paths — including the ones that don't involve selling to us. If you decide to work with your lender, list with an agent, or do nothing at all, that's your call and we'll respect it.
When you submit the form, we'll give you a quick call to hear what's going on — there's no obligation and nothing to prepare. If selling looks like a fit, we'll set a time to see the house and get you a written cash offer within 24 hours of seeing the property. If you accept, you pick the closing date — as soon as the title work allows, or a date that gives you room to plan your next step.
Ready for a fair, no-pressure offer?
Tell us about the house. We'll call you right away, answer your questions, and get you a tailored offer — usually within 24 hours of seeing the property.
Prefer to talk to a person right now?
(386) 261-9339