Sell a House in Foreclosure in Malibu, CA

Falling behind on mortgage payments doesn’t mean a Malibu home is lost overnight — California’s non-judicial foreclosure process runs on a statutory timeline that gives homeowners a real window to act. Cash Home Buyers CA works with Malibu homeowners at every stage of that timeline.

The Statutory Timeline

After a missed payment, a lender typically records a Notice of Default (NOD), which starts a minimum 90-day reinstatement period during which the homeowner can catch up on missed payments, interest, and fees to stop the process. If the loan still isn’t reinstated, the lender can then record and mail a Notice of Trustee Sale, which must be at least 21 days before the actual sale date. That means, at minimum, there’s roughly 111 days between a recorded Notice of Default and a trustee sale — though it’s frequently longer in practice.

What Happens After the Sale

Under California’s SB 1079, certain post-sale purchases at a trustee sale, particularly by investors buying multiple properties, can be subject to a bid window that allows eligible bidders, including some tenants, to submit a higher bid after the auction. This mostly affects what happens after a sale has already occurred; the more useful window for a homeowner is before the trustee sale date, while there’s still control over the outcome.

Why Selling Before the Sale Date Matters

Once a property is sold at a trustee’s sale, the homeowner has no further say in price or terms, and any equity built up over years of ownership — often significant in Malibu given the market’s property values — can be lost entirely, since a trustee sale pays off the lender first regardless of the home’s actual value. Selling the property yourself before that date, even close to it, allows you to capture the remaining equity directly instead of losing it to the auction process.

How a Cash Sale Fits Inside the Timeline

Because there’s no financing contingency or lender-ordered appraisal to wait on, a cash sale can often close within the reinstatement period or in the weeks between a Notice of Default and a scheduled trustee sale date. We evaluate the property, present a written offer typically within 24 to 48 hours, and can close in as little as 7 to 14 days through a licensed Los Angeles County title company — often in time to pay off the loan in full and preserve remaining equity before an auction date arrives.

What to Have Ready

• Your Notice of Default or Notice of Trustee Sale, if you’ve received one
• An estimate of the current payoff amount from your lender or loan servicer
• Any other liens on the property (second mortgages, HOA liens, tax liens)

Frequently Asked Questions

How much time do I actually have after a Notice of Default?
At minimum 90 days to reinstate the loan, plus at least 21 days’ notice before the trustee sale itself — roughly 111 days total at minimum, though it’s often longer.

Can you close before my trustee sale date?
Often yes, especially if we’re contacted with enough lead time; every situation depends on the specific dates involved.

Will selling stop the foreclosure?
Yes — paying off the loan in full through a sale resolves the foreclosure before the trustee sale date.

What if there’s not enough equity to cover what’s owed?
We can still review your situation and discuss options, including whether a short sale conversation with your lender makes sense.

Get a free, no-obligation cash offer from Cash Home Buyers CA today.