Most homeowners don’t realize how little time they actually have. By the time a foreclosure notice arrives, the clock is already running, and in Pennsylvania, once the bank files in court, options start to disappear fast.
That’s the situation Tom and Linda found themselves in last year. After Tom was laid off from his job in Braddock, they fell behind on three months of mortgage payments. Then the letters started coming, first from the bank, then from an attorney’s office, and finally one that mentioned the word they’d been dreading: foreclosure.
“We didn’t know what to do,” Linda said. “We called the bank and they told us we had to come up with everything we owed at once. We didn’t have it.”
A friend mentioned HomeBuyers of Pittsburgh. They called on a Thursday. By Saturday, the team had walked through the home and made a cash offer.
“They explained everything to us, what would happen if we let it go to sheriff sale, what we’d lose, and what we could actually walk away with if we sold now,” Tom said. “It was the first time during that whole nightmare that someone actually helped us.”
They closed within three weeks, paid off the mortgage, and walked away with money in their pocket, something that wouldn’t have been possible if they’d waited any longer.
What Most Pittsburgh Homeowners Don’t Know About Foreclosure
Pennsylvania is a judicial foreclosure state, which means lenders must go through the court system before they can take your home. That process takes time, often several months from the first missed payment to the sheriff’s sale. But that window is smaller than most people think, and it closes fast.
Once a foreclosure complaint is filed with the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, a judgment can follow. After judgment, the property gets scheduled for sheriff sale. At that point, your ability to control the outcome, including how much you walk away with, becomes very limited.
The homeowners who fare best are the ones who act before it gets to that stage.
Why Selling Early Keeps More Money in Your Pocket
When you sell before sheriff sale, you get to negotiate. You receive a cash offer based on market value, pay off what you owe, and keep whatever equity remains. When a property sells at sheriff sale, the bank gets what they’re owed, and whatever is left goes through a process that takes even more time and involves even more costs.
“We’ve bought homes from families who were 30 days behind, and some who got their notice of sheriff sale the week before they called us,” said Ryan Scialabba, co-founder of HomeBuyers of Pittsburgh. “The earlier someone reaches out, the more options we have to help them. But even in late-stage situations, we’ve been able to step in and make something work.”
How It Works
Step one is a free, no-pressure conversation about your situation. Step two is a cash offer, with no repairs, no cleanouts and no showings required. Step three is picking your closing date. Most closings happen in 21 days or less.
There are no commissions, no agent fees and no judgment. HomeBuyers of Pittsburgh has helped families across Allegheny County navigate some of the most difficult real estate situations imaginable, and they’ve built their reputation on treating people with respect when they need it most.
A Track Record You Can Trust
With more than 1,100 homes purchased, a BBB A rating and more than 200 five-star Google reviews, HomeBuyers of Pittsburgh is one of the most trusted cash home buyers in Western Pennsylvania. They’ve been featured on local television, radio and in newspapers across the Pittsburgh region.
As licensed real estate agents and co-owners of RealtyCo, they also help homeowners who have enough equity and time to list on the open market. Every situation is different, and they will tell you honestly which path makes the most sense for yours.
If you’re behind on payments or have already received a foreclosure notice, don’t wait. Call HomeBuyers of Pittsburgh at 724-201-9941 or visit HomeBuyersofPittsburgh.com to understand your options before the decision gets made for you.