South Florida · Free Resource

Your Home
Is Still
Yours.

If you are facing foreclosure anywhere in South Florida, you almost certainly have more options — and more time — than anyone has told you.

12–24 months avg FL foreclosure timeline
5+ options still available to you
Free Free HUD counseling statewide
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The truth most homeowners never hear

Florida law gives you between
12 and 24 months.
Most people use none of it.

That is not because options do not exist. It is because nobody explained what those options actually are. This site exists to change that — one South Florida homeowner at a time.

Your Options

Five Paths Still Open to You

Most homeowners in South Florida have at least three of these options available to them right now. Here is what each one actually means.

01 Most Common First Step

Loan Modification

A loan modification changes your mortgage terms permanently — lowering your rate, extending your term, or rolling missed payments to the end of the loan. Lenders generally prefer this over foreclosure. You have more leverage in this conversation than you realize.

Learn about loan modifications →
Mortgage paperwork on a desk
02 If Your Hardship Is Temporary

Mortgage Forbearance

Forbearance temporarily pauses or reduces your payments while you recover from a financial hardship. The earlier you request it the more flexible your lender will be. If you are reading this before missing a payment that window is still open right now.

Explore forbearance options →
Key resting beside house documents
03 Less Credit Damage Than Foreclosure

Short Sale

A short sale lets you sell your home for its current market value even if that is less than what you owe — with your lender's approval. It causes significantly less credit damage than a completed foreclosure. In active South Florida markets, short sales often attract buyers more quickly than homeowners first expect.

Short sale resources →
South Florida home exterior
04 Skip the Court Process

Deed in Lieu

A deed in lieu means voluntarily handing your home to your lender in exchange for being released from your mortgage. It avoids the court process entirely and can be one of the fastest paths to resolution when your lender agrees to accept it.

Learn about deed in lieu →
Signed contract on a table
05 Immediate Legal Protection

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy

Filing for Chapter 13 creates an automatic stay — a legal order that immediately halts all foreclosure proceedings the moment it is filed. This is a serious step that should be discussed with a licensed Florida bankruptcy attorney but for homeowners out of time it can be the most powerful tool available.

Bankruptcy vs foreclosure →
Courthouse exterior
Nobody plans for this moment.
But the people who find this page
are the ones still fighting
for their home.
- South Florida Foreclosure Help
Read how we can help →
Trusted Local Network

The People Who
Can Help You

Good information is step one. Having the right people in your corner is step two. Every professional in our network works specifically with South Florida homeowners in distress.

Short Sale Specialists

8 agents with exclusive territories across Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe. Deep local market knowledge.

View all specialists →

Location Title & Escrow

Short sale and foreclosure closing specialists in Miami Lakes. Remote closings available. Bilingual team.

View profile →

WorkTC

Transaction coordination for South Florida short sales from contract to close. Nothing falls through the cracks.

View profile →

Bankruptcy Attorney

Immediate legal protection to halt foreclosure proceedings. Florida licensed. Chapter 13 experienced.

Learn more →
Our Commitment

This site has
one job.

South Florida Foreclosure Help was built because the information homeowners actually need was buried under legal jargon, sales pitches, and forms nobody could understand.

This site has one job. Give you honest clear free information about what your options actually are — written in plain English by people who understand this market and care about your family.

No advertising. No lead generation. No pressure. Just the information you need.

HUD-approved resources listed
Florida law compliant 2026
Bilingual English and Spanish
66-page South Florida resource network
Available Right Now

Free Help Across South Florida

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free federally certified counselors who negotiate with your lender

Find counselors →

Florida Homeowner Assistance Fund

Federal funding for mortgage payment assistance

Apply now →

Miami-Dade Clerk of Court

Check your foreclosure case status and court dates

Check your case →

HOPE NOW Alliance

Free 24-hour hotline — English and Spanish — 1-888-995-HOPE

Call now →

Florida Bar Referral Service

Connect with a licensed Florida foreclosure attorney

Find an attorney →

Ways to Stop Foreclosure Immediately

Use this guide when the case is active and you need the fastest realistic next step.

Open the guide →

Foreclosure Assistance Grants

Florida HAF, SHIP, HUD, and other no-upfront-cost programs in one place.

See grant options →

Senior Foreclosure Help

Programs and protections built specifically for senior homeowners in South Florida.

Open senior resources →

¿Habla Español?

Estamos Aquí Para Ayudar.

Todos nuestros recursos están disponibles en español. Nuestros especialistas en Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach y los Florida Keys hablan español con fluidez.

Ver Recursos en Español →
Common Questions

Questions People Ask Us Most

Honest answers to the questions South Florida homeowners ask most.

Florida requires lenders to go through the court system, which typically takes 12 to 24 months from the first missed payment to an actual auction date. That timeline is your window of opportunity. Most homeowners have significantly more options and more time than anyone has told them.
In Florida, options exist at nearly every stage of the foreclosure process — including after a lis pendens is filed and even after a sale date is set. The only point at which most options close is after the gavel drops at auction and the sale is confirmed by the court. If you have not reached that point, you likely still have options.
Yes. A lis pendens (Notice of Pendency) is the beginning of the legal process, not the end. Loan modification, short sale, deed in lieu, and Chapter 13 bankruptcy are all still available after lis pendens is filed. The key is acting quickly once you receive it.
The most immediate legal tools are Chapter 13 bankruptcy, which creates an automatic stay that halts all foreclosure proceedings the moment it is filed, and a fully approved short sale or loan modification, which causes most lenders to postpone auction dates. Contact a specialist immediately — days matter at this stage.
The main options are loan modification, mortgage forbearance, reinstatement by paying the past-due amount, a repayment plan, short sale, deed in lieu of foreclosure, Chapter 13 bankruptcy, refinancing, HUD counselor intervention, and the Florida Homeowner Assistance Fund. A specialist can tell you which of these apply to your specific situation within one free conversation.
For most sellers who cannot afford to bring money to closing and want to avoid foreclosure, a short sale is significantly better than the alternative. It causes less credit damage than a foreclosure, typically allows you to buy another home 2 to 4 years sooner, and gives you more control over the process and timeline.
A short sale does impact your credit, but significantly less than a completed foreclosure. A foreclosure can reduce your score by 200 to 300 points and remain on your record for 7 years. A short sale is typically reported as "settled for less than full amount" and its impact is generally shorter-lasting. Every situation is different — a specialist can give you a realistic picture for your specific file.
No. A short sale is a voluntary transaction where you sell your home with your lender's approval for less than what you owe. A foreclosure is an involuntary legal process where the lender takes the home through the court system. Short sale gives you agency and control. Foreclosure does not.
Yes — this is called reinstatement and it is one of the simplest ways to stop foreclosure if you have access to the funds. In Florida, homeowners generally have the right to reinstate their loan by paying all past-due amounts, late fees, and legal costs up until a certain point in the court process. Contact your servicer to get the exact reinstatement amount.
The Florida Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) is a federally funded program administered by Florida Housing that provides financial assistance to homeowners experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19. It can cover mortgage payments, property taxes, homeowner's insurance, and HOA fees. Eligibility is based on income and hardship. Apply at floridahousing.org/HAF.
Yes. The Florida Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF), the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program administered by each county, and HUD-approved housing counselors can all provide free assistance or connect you with grant programs. See our full grants resource page for details.
Yes. Seniors have access to specific protections and programs including HAF senior provisions, SHIP elder grants, HUD reverse mortgage counseling, and Area Agency on Aging referrals. Senior homeowners with reverse mortgages facing foreclosure have additional specialized options. See our senior foreclosure help page.
For buyers, short sales can offer below-market prices but require patience — lender approval can take weeks to months. The home is sold as-is and the timeline is less predictable than a traditional sale. For an experienced buyer working with a specialist, short sales can represent strong value.
A completed foreclosure typically reduces your credit score by 100 to 150 points or more and remains on your credit report for 7 years. It will affect your ability to obtain new financing, rent certain properties, and in some cases employment. A short sale or deed in lieu generally causes less long-term damage.
After a completed foreclosure, most conventional loan programs require a 7-year waiting period. FHA loans require 3 years. VA loans require 2 years. After a short sale, those waiting periods are typically 2 to 4 years depending on the loan type. This is one of the most significant reasons homeowners choose short sale over foreclosure when possible.
It depends on your situation. If you have received a court summons or have an auction date approaching, consult a foreclosure attorney immediately — legal deadlines cannot be missed. If you are behind on payments but not yet in court, a short sale specialist can often resolve the situation without the legal system. Our specialists can refer you to attorneys when needed.
Yes. In most cases homeowners remain in their property throughout the short sale process until the closing date. You are not required to vacate before closing. Some relocation assistance programs even provide funds to help with moving costs after closing.
It depends on what your lender agrees to in the approval letter. Some lenders waive the deficiency balance entirely. Others may pursue it. A skilled short sale specialist negotiates for full deficiency waiver as part of the approval. Never agree to a short sale without understanding the deficiency terms — this is one of the most important negotiations in the entire process.
Yes. HUD-approved housing counselors are free federally certified agencies that negotiate with lenders at no cost. The HOPE NOW Alliance operates a free 24-hour bilingual hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE. The Florida Homeowner Assistance Fund provides direct financial assistance. None of these require upfront fees.
A deed in lieu means you voluntarily sign ownership of your home to the lender in exchange for being released from your mortgage — no sale, no buyer required. A short sale involves actually selling the home to a third-party buyer with the lender's approval. Deed in lieu is faster when the lender agrees. Short sale may be preferred when the homeowner wants market exposure or the lender requires it.