Falling behind with the bank is more common than most people realize — a job loss, medical bills, or one hard year is all it takes. In Georgia, Texas and Tennessee, most foreclosures happen out of court and can move fast once the process starts. Florida goes through the courts and usually takes longer. The worst thing you can do is wait. The good news: until the day of the sale, you still have options — and selling is one of them.
Your lender and a free HUD-approved housing counselor (800-569-4287) can also walk you through options like reinstatement, a repayment plan or a loan modification. Talk to them too; selling is one option, not the only one.
Why homeowners in pre-foreclosure sell to us
- Speed — when there’s enough time, we can close before the sale date and pay off the loan at closing.
- Keep your equity — at auction, your equity often evaporates. Selling first means the difference goes to you, not the bank.
- Limit the credit damage — late payments already reported stay on your record, but a sale that pays off the loan stops new ones and avoids a completed foreclosure, which can follow you for seven years.
- No cost to you — no fees, no commissions, no repairs, and we handle the paperwork and payoff coordination.
Time matters more than anything
Every week that passes narrows your options. Reach out today — even if you just want to understand where you stand. We'll lay out exactly what a sale would look like, what you'd walk away with, and how fast we can move. If keeping the house is a better path for you, we'll tell you that too.
No pressure, ever. Our offer is free and comes with zero obligation. Even if we're not the right fit, we'll point you in the right direction.
Got a notice or a sale date?Send us the address and your sale date. We'll tell you honestly what we can do and how fast.
See My Options →Confidential · No obligation · Or call/text (678) 926-9776
How foreclosure works in your state
- Georgia: mostly out of court. The lender must mail notice at least 30 days before the sale and advertise it once a week for four weeks. Sales are on the first Tuesday of the month at the county courthouse.
- Texas: mostly out of court. For a home, the servicer must give at least 20 days to catch up before a sale notice, and the sale notice comes at least 21 days before the sale. Sales are on the first Tuesday of the month, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the county courthouse.
- Tennessee: mostly out of court. Since July 2025, the notice of sale must run in a local newspaper at least twice, the first at least 20 days before the sale, and stay posted online for at least 20 days. Some loan documents still call for three newspaper ads.
- Florida: through the courts. The lender files a lawsuit; after a final judgment, the clerk sells the house at a public auction, often online, 20 to 35 days later.
In every state, federal rules generally keep a servicer from starting foreclosure until the loan is more than 120 days behind. Whatever your state, send us the address and your dates, and we’ll tell you honestly how much time there is.
Local foreclosure guides
What happens when you reach out
- You talk to an owner. Call or text (678) 926-9776 and you’ll reach William or Peter, the owners of MarKey Home Buyers. We’ve been in business for more than 10 years.
- We ask a few questions. The address, roughly what you owe, the condition of the house, and your sale date if you have one. Your latest mortgage statement and any notice you’ve received help.
- You get an honest read. We tell you whether there’s realistically time for a sale to close before your sale date, and whether selling makes sense for you at all.
- If it fits, you get a written offer after a quick walkthrough, in person or by video. No fees, no obligation.
- You decide. Compare it with your other options and talk it over with family, your servicer, a housing counselor or an attorney first.
How we figure an offer: we start from what the house would sell for after repairs, then subtract the repairs it needs, our costs to buy, hold and resell it, and a margin for our risk. That’s why a cash offer is lower than a full retail price. In return you skip repairs, showings and commissions, and you pick the closing date. We’ll walk you through the numbers on your house.
What we’ll never do
- Promise we can stop your foreclosure. No honest buyer can promise that.
- Charge you a fee, ask for money up front, or ask you to make payments to us.
- Ask you to sign over your deed before closing. The house stays yours until a closing attorney or title company closes the sale.
- Tell you to stop talking to your lender, a housing counselor or an attorney.
- Rush you. Every term is in writing before you agree to anything.
- Hide how we buy. We may buy your house ourselves or assign our purchase contract to another buyer, and we tell you which in writing before you sign.
MarKey Home Buyers is a real estate investment company that buys houses. We are not a lender, law firm, government agency or housing counselor, and we’re not affiliated with your lender or servicer. A sale to us is a sale: at closing, ownership transfers and you move out on the date we agree.
When a cash sale probably isn’t your best move
- You can afford the payment again and your servicer offers a reinstatement, repayment plan or modification that works.
- The house is in good shape, you have real equity, and there’s enough time before the sale to list it with an agent. That will usually net you more.
- You qualify for an assistance program that can catch you up.
If any of those fit, we’ll tell you, even if it means we don’t buy your house.
Foreclosure guides
How it works
Tell us about the property, get a fair cash offer within 24 hours, and close on the date you choose — in as little as two weeks. We buy as-is, pay typical closing costs, and never charge fees or commissions.
Questions sellers ask
How long does foreclosure take?
Federal rules generally keep a servicer from starting foreclosure until the loan is more than 120 days behind. After that it depends on the state: Georgia, Texas and Tennessee mostly foreclose out of court, so a sale can come within weeks of the first notice, while Florida goes through the courts and usually takes longer. If you already have a date, send it to us.
When are foreclosure sales held?
In Georgia and Texas, sales are held on the first Tuesday of the month at the county courthouse. In Tennessee, the date is set in a notice published in the local paper. In Florida, the court sets the sale after a final judgment and the clerk runs the auction, often online. Send us the address and the sale date, and we’ll tell you honestly whether there’s time to close.
Can I sell my house if it’s in foreclosure?
Yes. You still own the house until the sale, and a sale that closes before the auction pays off the loan from the proceeds. Timing is the catch, since a closing needs a title search and a payoff from your lender, so reach out as early as you can.
What should I do first after getting a foreclosure notice?
Call your lender to ask about reinstatement, a repayment plan or a loan modification, and talk to a free HUD-approved housing counselor (HUD’s line is 800-569-4287). If selling turns out to be your best option, we can show you what a cash sale would look like, with no obligation.
What happens to my equity if my house goes to a foreclosure auction?
At a foreclosure sale, the price is set by the bidding, not by you, and fees and costs pile on along the way. If there’s money left over, claiming it can take time and legal help. Selling before the sale lets you set the terms and keep what’s left after the loan and any liens are paid, and we’ll show you those numbers.
