Behind on payments — judgment-free options
Behind on your house payments in Arizona? You have options.
Falling behind happens — a job loss, a medical bill, a divorce. What matters now is the calendar: Arizona's foreclosure timeline is one of the fastest in the country, and every week you wait removes options. Here they are, plainly.
The Arizona timeline, in plain English
Arizona lenders foreclose through a trustee's sale, not a court case (A.R.S. § 33-807). Once a Notice of Trustee's Sale is recorded, the sale can legally happen as soon as the 91st day after recording (A.R.S. § 33-808) — roughly three months. Miss that date and the house is gone, the credit damage is done, and any equity you had can evaporate at auction. Everything below works better the earlier you start. For the full week-by-week breakdown, see our Arizona trustee's sale timeline guide.
Your options, honestly compared
- Catch up (reinstate). Arizona law gives you the right to reinstate — pay the past-due amount plus fees, not the whole loan — until 5:00 p.m. on the last business day before the sale date (A.R.S. § 33-813). Best option if the setback was temporary and the number is reachable.
- Loan modification or forbearance. Ask your lender to restructure. Worth a call — but approvals are slow and not guaranteed, and the clock keeps running while you wait.
- Sell before the sale date. If catching up isn't realistic, selling lets you pay off the loan, stop the foreclosure, protect your credit from the foreclosure itself, and walk away with whatever equity remains — instead of losing it at auction.
Why owners in this spot sell to us instead of listing
A listing takes months you may not have — showings, financed buyers whose loans fall through, repair negotiations. A direct cash sale closes in as little as seven days, there is no sign in the yard and no listing anyone can see, and the past-due balance is simply paid off at closing by the title company. You do not clean, repair, or explain anything to anybody. If there are also liens on the house, those get handled at closing the same way.
What working with us looks like
Tell us the address and the sale date if one is scheduled — by form or phone. We prepare a written cash offer within 24 to 48 hours and can close inside most trustee's-sale windows. If your situation is better served by reinstating or a modification, we will say so. No pressure, no judgment, and requesting the offer commits you to nothing. See the full process on our how it works page.
Frequently asked questions
How long does foreclosure take in Arizona?
After the Notice of Trustee's Sale is recorded, the sale can happen as soon as the 91st day (A.R.S. § 33-808) — faster than most states.
Can I sell if I'm already behind?
Yes, any time before the trustee's sale. The past-due balance is paid from proceeds at closing; remaining equity is yours.
Will anyone know?
No listing, no yard sign, no showings. It closes like any normal sale through a title company.
Official sources and free help
- A.R.S. § 33-807 — the trustee's power of sale.
- A.R.S. § 33-808 — notice of trustee's sale; the 91-day minimum before a sale.
- A.R.S. § 33-813 — your right to reinstate up to 5:00 p.m. the last business day before the sale.
- HUD-approved housing counselors — free, government-approved foreclosure counseling.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau — help for homeowners — mortgage assistance options explained.
Disclaimer: This page is general information about Arizona's foreclosure process, not legal or financial advice, and reading it does not create any professional relationship. Statute references are current as of the last-updated date above, but laws change and every loan is different. Before deciding, talk to an Arizona attorney or a free HUD-approved housing counselor. AZ Home Cash is a home buyer, not a law firm, lender, or credit counselor.