Richmond · Contra Costa County · Free Confidential Help
Avoid Foreclosure in Richmond.
You Have Options.
Richmond carries some of the highest NOD-per-capita filings in the Bay Area. Many North Richmond and Iron Triangle owners are working with smaller equity cushions, which makes early intervention (reinstatement, loan mod) far more valuable than waiting for a forced sale. Even with a Notice of Default or a sale date set, there are moves available — often a short sale, which the lender must approve and which affects credit less severely than a foreclosure. I work in Richmond: I will sit with you, look at the numbers, and lay out your options honestly. If keeping the home is your best path, the free HUD-approved counselors listed below specialize in that. No pressure, and no fee for the consultation.
What we see most in Richmond
The situations that bring homeowners to us
We work cases across Richmond — North Richmond, Iron Triangle, Point Richmond, Marina Bay, Hilltop, and May Valley. If your property is anywhere in Contra Costa County, we can help.
What we will walk through with you
Four Ways Richmond Homeowners Avoid Losing Their Home
Every situation is different. The right move depends on your equity, your income, where you are in the timeline, and what you actually want. A short sale is the path we handle most often, and the one we are set up to prepare and present — but here is the full menu, including the ones we do not handle.
Short Sale
Sell the home for less than the mortgage balance. The lender decides whether to approve the sale and how to treat the remaining balance. A short sale affects your credit, though less severely than a foreclosure, and there may be tax consequences — ask a CPA. We prepare the package and present it to your lender.
Cash Sale (Off-Market)
If you have equity, we can make a direct cash offer or bring in a vetted cash buyer. A cash close typically runs 14–21 days — longer if title needs clearing, such as liens, probate, or a clouded chain. Keep any equity above what you owe, avoid foreclosure on your record.
Traditional Listing
If you have equity and time, listing on the open market usually nets the most money. We move fast and price aggressively when the clock is ticking.
Deed in Lieu
Voluntarily hand the deed to the lender in exchange for canceling the debt. Less damaging than a full foreclosure on your record.
California foreclosure timeline
Where Are You Right Now?
The earlier you call, the more options stay on the table. Even at the trustee-sale stage, there are still moves — they are just narrower.
- 1
Day 1
You miss a payment. Late fees start.
- 2
Day 30–90
Lender sends demand letters. Reinstatement is still cheap here.
- 3
Day ~90
Notice of Default (NOD) recorded. You have 90 days to cure.
- 4
Day ~180
Notice of Trustee Sale (NOS) posted. Auction set ~21 days out.
- 5
Auction Day
Home sold on the courthouse steps. You can be evicted shortly after.
Contra Costa County Recorder
Where Richmond Notices Are Filed
Contra Costa County Clerk-Recorder
555 Escobar St, Martinez, CA 94553
www.contracosta.ca.gov/191/Clerk-RecorderYour Notice of Default and Notice of Trustee Sale are recorded here. They become public record once filed — meaning you may start getting unsolicited mail from wholesalers and "we buy houses" companies within days. We are happy to explain the difference.
Contra Costa County Trustee Sales
Where Richmond Auctions Happen
On the courthouse steps, 725 Court St, Martinez
Weekdays at 10 AM or 1:30 PM, varies by trustee.
If your home is scheduled for sale, the auction will happen at this location unless we (or you) successfully postpone or cancel it. Postponements are common — and a postponement gives us more time to execute a better outcome.
Free local resources
HUD-Approved Help for Richmond Homeowners
These are independent non-profit housing counselors serving Contra Costa County. They provide free foreclosure-prevention counseling, loan modification help, and mediation. We are not affiliated with them — we list them because every Richmond homeowner facing default deserves to know they exist.
Community Housing Development Corporation of North Richmond
FreeBay Area Legal Aid
FreeFree legal help for low-income homeowners across the 7-county Bay Area.
NID Housing Counseling Agency
FreeCalHFA Keep Your Home California
FreeState-funded mortgage assistance programs.
Request a free Richmond consultation
Tell us where you are.
An agent who works Richmond will call as soon as possible — usually within one business day. Everything you share stays between you and our team. You are not committing to anything by filling this out.
Other Bay Area cities we help
Foreclosure help nearby
A note on foreclosure rescue scams
California has strict rules on who can help homeowners in default — for good reason. We will never ask you to sign over your deed, pay upfront for "rescue services," or skip talking to your lender. If anything we suggest feels off, ask us why. Get a second opinion. Your Richmond home is worth that caution.