Foreclosure procedures vary from state to state, and so does the duration. In some states, foreclosures can take a very long time, sometimes a few years.
According to a 2024 foreclosure report from ATTOM Data Solutions, the average number of days for a foreclosure between the first public notice of foreclosure and the end of the foreclosure was an average of 720 days in the fourth quarter of 2023.
But in some states, the process was typically much longer. (And in others, the timeline is shorter.)
Depending on the state and circumstances, a foreclosure will be judicial or nonjudicial.
Judicial foreclosures go through the state court system, meaning the courts are involved in every step of the foreclosure. So, a judicial foreclosure often takes much longer than a nonjudicial one.
Backlogged courts, judges' schedules, hearings, and required paperwork contribute to a prolonged process. Courts are often unable to process large volumes of foreclosures in an expedited manner.
In a nonjudicial foreclosure, the lender doesn't have to go through court to foreclose. For this reason, nonjudicial foreclosures are typically faster than judicial ones. But not always.
Another reason some states have long timelines is federal and state foreclosure prevention efforts.
To learn about your options if you are facing foreclosure, get Nolo's The Foreclosure Survival Guide.
As of the fourth quarter of 2023, according to ATTOM Data Solutions, foreclosures in the following states took an exceptionally long time.
Foreclosures in Louisiana took around 2,641 days to complete.
Hawaii also had long foreclosure timelines, averaging 2,031 days.
The foreclosure process in New York took, on average, 2,006 days.
Nevada had extended foreclosure timelines, averaging 1,816 days (over seven years).
Foreclosures in Kentucky took around 1,643 days.
On the flip side, as of the third quarter of 2023, the following states had the shortest timelines: Montana (169 days), Wyoming (169 days), Texas (171 days), Michigan (205 days), and Missouri (214 days).
According to ATTOM Data Solutions, the ten states with the highest foreclosure rates in 2023 were New Jersey, Illinois, Delaware, Maryland, Ohio, South Carolina, Nevada, Florida, Connecticut, and Indiana.
If you're facing a foreclosure in a state where it takes a lot of time to complete the process, you'll probably have plenty of time before losing your home to:
If you live in a state where foreclosures usually take a long time, and you're about to go through one, you likely will have plenty of time to apply for (and hopefully get) an alternative to foreclosure.
But keep in mind that the timelines discussed in this article are averages. The actual length of any individual foreclosure depends on many factors, and your foreclosure could be longer or shorter than the state average.
Consider talking to a local foreclosure attorney to find out how long a foreclosure will take and get advice on your situation.