Notice of Trustee's Sale
You have an auction date. Here is what it means.
A Notice of Trustee's Sale means a sale date is set. That can feel like the end. It is not. You still have real choices — this page walks through them.
What this notice means
A Notice of Trustee's Sale sets a date. That date is your auction. By law, it is posted at least 20 days before the sale (Civil Code §2924f).
It comes after a Notice of Default and a wait of at least three months (Civil Code §2924). So the clock has been running for a while. Now a real date exists.
This stage can feel like the end. It is not. You still have moves. This is education, not legal advice.
Three doors are still open
You have three real choices right now. You can catch up. You can sell. Or you can pay the loan in full.
You can usually catch up until five business days before the sale (Civil Code §2924c). After that, this door closes. But two doors stay open longer.
You can sell the home. A sale can close right up to the auction. You can also pay the loan off in full any time before the gavel.
Want to keep the home? Call your lender, a HUD-approved housing counselor, and a lawyer first. A short sale is only possible if your lender says yes.
Confirm your real date — and check if it moved
The days matter. Each door closes on its own day. So you need the exact date, not a guess.
Only your trustee or lender can confirm your date. The notice lists who to call. Call them and write the date down.
Dates can also change. Sometimes the trustee or lender moves the sale to a later day. No one can honestly promise to move it for you. So do not assume — check whether your date moved.
Want the full picture? Our foreclosure help page shows every stage of the clock and what you can do at each one.
What happens at and after the sale
At the auction, the home is sold to the highest bidder. If no one buys it, the lender usually takes it back. That is called REO.
Either way, there is a clear next step. If the home sells, the focus turns to a calm, orderly move. You are not left without a path.
We are licensed California real estate professionals. We can walk you through an orderly move, or a sale before your date. When financing fits, it is arranged through WCA Mortgage Brokerage.
Frequently Asked
Your questions, answered.
By law, the notice is posted at least 20 days before the auction (Civil Code §2924f). Often you have more time than that. But 20 days is the floor. Only your trustee or lender can confirm your real date. The notice lists who to call. Call them and write the date down. This is education, not legal advice.
Talk It Through
One free, private call.
Tell us where things stand. We will walk you through the clock and the choices still open to you. If your best move is your lender or a housing counselor, we will say so. No pressure. No obligation.
Call Gay-Lynn — 562-858-7065Gay-Lynn Chavez, CA DRE #01433767 (eXp Realty of California, Inc.), and Louis Chavez, CA DRE #01949822, NC #363738 (eXp Commercial of California, Inc.) — Chavez Group / LC Commercial Invest Group. Francisco Williams, CA DRE #01979442, NMLS #1858674 — KW Commercial Beverly Hills / Williams Capital Advisors. Information on this page is educational and not legal, tax, or financial advice.