Pre-foreclosure
A term often used for the period before a foreclosure case or sale. Its use varies. A missed payment, a lender notice and a filed lawsuit are different things; have your actual documents reviewed.
Court papers or an auction date? Contact a foreclosure attorney promptly; do not wait for a website reply.
HOPP: 855-466-3456HUDSON VALLEY · FORECLOSURE & PRE-FORECLOSURE
Mortgage pressure?
Get clear on
your options.
Start with the documents, the deadlines and the help available. Then work through what keeping or selling the property could involve.
01 / UNDERSTAND THE TERMSThree terms.
Three terms.
Different meanings.
Use the wording on your actual documents as the starting point for professional review.
Foreclosure
In a New York mortgage foreclosure, the mortgage holder asks a court for permission to sell the property to satisfy the debt. Court papers, response requirements and appearances need prompt attention.
Lis pendens
A notice concerning an action affecting property rights. It can arise in disputes beyond foreclosure. The notice alone is not a foreclosure judgment or proof that an auction is inevitable.
02 / YOUR STARTING POINTWhat are you
What are you
working through?
Choose the closest description to see useful contacts and questions. Your selection stays on this page and is not sent with the form.
A STARTING POINT FOR HELP
Choose the situation closest to yours.
See who to contact and which questions to ask. This guide does not check court records, determine your case status or calculate a deadline.
HOPP · 855-466-3456
Connect with free housing counseling and legal services in New York.
About the Homeowner Protection Program04 / PREPARE FOR THE CONVERSATIONKeep the records.
Keep the records.
Write down
the questions.
Use this page as a working guide. Share sensitive records directly and securely with the appropriate professional.
Recent mortgage statements and servicer contacts
Notices, court papers and their envelopes
A record of dates, calls and written responses
Any assistance applications and decisions
Property details and known liens or expenses
Your goals and the questions you need answered
Keep account numbers, financial records and court documents out of a general website inquiry.
Be cautious with
“rescue” promises.
Have your own attorney review documents before you sign or transfer any ownership interest. Treat pressure to sign quickly or promises to save the home as reasons to verify the offer independently.
New York Attorney General: homeowner protection
THE REAL ESTATE SIDEClear property information.
Clear property information.
An informed decision.
Ryan Sylvestri can help you evaluate the real estate questions: condition, preparation, market positioning and what a potential sale would involve.
Your attorney, servicer and housing counselor handle the legal and mortgage-assistance questions. A sale discussion can be coordinated with their guidance.
Ryan Sylvestri
Licensed Associate Real Estate Broker
360 Property Management · ABR® · PSA
05 / COMMON QUESTIONSKnow what
Know what
to ask next.
These answers are general education. An attorney should review the actual documents, rights and deadlines in your situation.
Does a lis pendens mean I have already lost the house?
No. A notice of pendency gives notice of a matter affecting property rights. It does not, by itself, establish that a foreclosure judgment or sale has occurred. Have an attorney identify the underlying matter and review its current status.
Should I wait until I decide whether to sell before asking for help?
Contact your servicer and a qualified housing counselor or attorney promptly. You can explore the real estate questions while they address assistance and legal requirements. Waiting to choose a sale strategy does not pause a notice or court deadline.
Can putting the home on the market stop foreclosure?
A listing, an offer or a conversation with an agent does not itself stop the legal process. Your attorney and servicer need to confirm any agreement or order affecting the case or sale date. Do not rely on an assumed postponement.
What if the home may be worth less than the debt?
Discuss a short sale and other options with your servicer, attorney and housing counselor. Any required creditor approvals and remaining debt must be addressed in writing. A short sale does not automatically mean every debt is forgiven.
What if I have a settlement conference scheduled?
Keep the appointment and ask an attorney what to prepare. New York Courts explains that a complaint still needs a timely response even when a settlement conference is scheduled. Ask about the specific requirements in your case.
What can Ryan help me with?
Ryan can discuss property condition, market positioning, preparation, sale costs and transaction coordination. Legal defense, court deadlines and mortgage-assistance eligibility belong with your attorney, servicer and housing counselor. Any real estate services would be agreed separately.
A REAL ESTATE CONVERSATIONTalk through
Talk through
the property
and the possibilities.
Tell Ryan the property address or town and the real estate question you want to explore. A brief, general description is enough.
Legal deadlines need direct attention.
845-867-2646For court papers or a sale date, contact a foreclosure attorney now. This form is not an urgent legal-help channel.
HOPP: 855-466-3456Ryan’s cell · No obligation to list
YOUR NEXT MOVE01 / 02
What are you interested in?
Tell Ryan what you need and choose how you would like him to respond.
General real estate education, not legal, tax or mortgage-servicing advice. No promise of foreclosure relief, postponement or a sale outcome. Resources reviewed September 9, 2026.