What is the foreclosure timeline?
In Pennsylvania, the foreclosure timeline typically begins when the homeowner falls behind on their mortgage payments and their mortgage servicer—the company they pay their mortgage to—files a complaint with the court. This complaint gives the lender the right to reclaim their collateral, which is the property that the homeowner purchased with their mortgage, if the homeowner does not pay the mortgage. The homeowner will then receive a copy of the complaint in the mail, which will include details of the amount they owe and their legal rights. From there, the homeowner has 30 days to respond with a complaint of their own or to request an appeal. If the homeowner does not respond to the complaint, the court will enter a judgement of foreclosure. At this point, the property is considered "foreclosed" and the lender can sell it to reimburse their financial losses. Once the foreclosure is finalized, the homeowner will receive a Notice to Quit Possession. This document legally requires the homeowner to vacate the property within ten days. If they do not, the lender has the right to pursue a eviction action. Ultimately, the foreclosure process takes three to six months to complete, depending on the appeal process. During this time, homeowners can still attempt to stop the foreclosure by engaging with their lender to form a payment plan or declaring bankruptcy.
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