You're Not Out of Options.
Let's Talk About What's Possible.

Option 01

Traditional Sale

If your home is worth more than you owe, selling on the open market may be your best and simplest option — and it stops the foreclosure clock entirely.

A traditional sale means listing your home at market value, attracting qualified buyers, and using the proceeds to pay off your mortgage. If there's equity left over, you keep it. This is the cleanest exit because it resolves your loan in full, satisfies the lender, and gives you a fresh financial start with money in your pocket.

Many homeowners in default don't realize they may actually have equity — especially given recent appreciation in the Jacksonville market. Howard will give you an honest, no-pressure valuation so you know exactly where you stand before making any decisions.

Option 02

Short Sale

If you owe more than your home is worth, a short sale is often the best way to stop foreclosure, protect your credit, and move forward — with Howard managing every step.

In a short sale, you sell your home for less than the outstanding mortgage balance, with your lender's approval. The lender agrees to accept the proceeds as full (or partial) satisfaction of the debt. For homeowners who are underwater on their mortgage, this is frequently the most powerful option available.

Howard handles the entire short sale process on your behalf — from preparing and submitting the short sale package to negotiating with your lender's loss mitigation department. He works to have the deficiency fully waived so you're not left with lingering debt after the sale. And because Howard's commission is paid by the lender, there's no out-of-pocket cost to you.

Option 03

Asking Your Lender for Help

If you want to keep your home, it's absolutely worth calling your lender directly to ask about hardship assistance, forbearance, or a loan modification. That conversation costs you nothing — and only your lender can offer it.

Your lender may be willing to temporarily pause payments, restructure your loan terms, lower your interest rate, or add missed payments to the back of the loan. These are conversations you can have directly with your lender's loss mitigation or hardship department. Howard is not a loan modification specialist and cannot walk you through that process — but he strongly encourages you to make that call.

That said, lender assistance is not guaranteed. Many homeowners go down this road and find their lender unwilling to cooperate, or the modification isn't enough to solve the problem. If your lender cannot help you — or if the hardship is permanent — Howard is ready to step in immediately with a short sale or traditional sale so you don't lose valuable time waiting for an answer that may never come.

A Word of Caution

Why Bankruptcy Is Not the Answer

When people are desperate, bankruptcy often sounds like a lifeline. In pre-foreclosure, it is usually not — and it can make an already difficult situation significantly worse.

Here's the hard truth: if you are already in default on your mortgage, your credit has already taken a hit. Filing for bankruptcy on top of that does not fix the problem — it adds a second major negative mark that can stay on your credit report for up to 10 years, far longer than even a foreclosure.

More importantly, bankruptcy does not stop foreclosure in the long run. A Chapter 7 filing may trigger an automatic stay that temporarily pauses foreclosure proceedings, but that stay is often lifted by the court within a matter of weeks once the lender files a motion — and then the foreclosure resumes right where it left off. Chapter 13 requires you to maintain a court-approved repayment plan while also staying current on your mortgage, which is not realistic for most homeowners already struggling to make payments.

Bankruptcy is a legitimate tool in the right circumstances — but using it to try to stop foreclosure on a home you cannot afford to keep is rarely one of them. You end up with damaged credit, legal fees, and still lose the house. A short sale or traditional sale almost always produces a far better outcome for your financial future.

Option 06

What Happens If You Do Nothing

Ignoring foreclosure notices is never a strategy. Understanding exactly what happens — and how fast — helps you make a clear decision to act while you still have time.

In Florida, foreclosure is a judicial process, meaning the lender must take you to court before they can take your home. That process follows a predictable timeline — and it moves faster than most homeowners expect. Here's the reality:

Once your lender files a lis pendens, the foreclosure lawsuit is officially on the clock. From that filing, it typically takes approximately six months for the court to issue a final judgment of foreclosure. Once that final judgment is entered, the property is placed on the Sheriff's Sale list and scheduled for public auction — usually within 20 to 35 days of the judgment date.

At auction, your home is sold to the highest bidder, often for well below market value. You have no say in the price, no control over who buys it, and no opportunity to walk away with any equity. Any balance still owed after the auction sale may be pursued against you as a deficiency judgment. And the foreclosure itself stays on your credit report for up to seven years — making it extremely difficult to rent an apartment, finance a vehicle, or ever qualify for a mortgage again.

Six months sounds like a long time. It is not. Between the time it takes to list and sell a home, negotiate a short sale approval, and coordinate a closing — the window to act is shorter than people realize. If a lis pendens has already been filed, contact Howard immediately.