Generally, homeowners have to be more than 120 days delinquent before a foreclosure can begin. If you’re behind in mortgage payments, you might be wondering how soon a foreclosure will start.

When can a bank legally foreclose?

Usually, a foreclosure won’t start until you’re more than 120 days delinquent. Federal law generally prohibits a mortgage servicer from making the “first notice or filing” to start a judicial foreclosure or nonjudicial foreclosure until a borrower’s mortgage loan obligation is more than 120 days delinquent.

Can a bank foreclose after one missed payment?

Although most lenders and services will not begin the foreclosure process over a single missed payment, missing even one mortgage payment does put you in breach of your mortgage agreement. That’s why it’s so important to communicate with your lender if you are going to be late on a payment or miss a payment.