Check your mortgage paperwork. Some consider you in default once you are 1 month late. Call the mortgage company and keep calling until you get something worked out. Keep making payments, even if you missed one payment, keep making payments until you work something out.

If you are 2 payments behind, your mortgage company will typically issue you a demand letter by the 90th day. If you have not brought your account current when 3 months are due, they will send demand and foreward your account to an attorney to begin the foreclosure process. This process could take 6+ months to complete. If you file bankruptcy, that time will be in addition to the regular foreclosure process. The worst thing that can show up on a credit history is a foreclosure. You will also have difficulty renting a place with an active foreclosure on your credit file. The best thing you can do is work out a plan with your lender. In order to rent an apartment you typically need 3 months rent to get into a place and good credit. If you have neither, it's a hard life. Do what you can to save your credit. List your home before it's foreclosed.

If you are behind on your mortgage, it is important to contact the lender right away.

Hi Roger...
It depends on what your situation is...if you are behind on your mortage due to hardship (i.e., illness, loss of employment, loss of tenants prior to lease expiration), your lender may allow you to apply for a hardship/forebearance. This may either temporarily reduce your monthly payments or the lender may "forgive" those delinquent payments and allow you to continue your regular payment schedule after the agreed upon hardship period ends. You should 1. Review your current situation...why are your behind on your mortgage??...2. Contact your lender immediately when you know you will be unable to make payment(s)...3. Document everything...what your lender sends you & each conversation you have w/the lender and it doesn't hurt to review the original loan docs for info on your lender's policy regarding applying for hardship status...Time is of the essence, so act quickly...defaulting on your mortage can alert your lender to begin the foreclosure process and your lender will notify you of their intentions to sell your property. But, there are ways you can avoid foreclosure if you act now.

Hope this helps & Good Luck

Yes, the longer it goes, the louder that ticking time bomb should be heard.

Hi Roger. If you are 2 months behind you may have already received information from your lender about this because they usually don't just start foreclosure procedures without putting you on notice. Theoretically, the mortgage company can initiate the process as soon as you are even just one day late, but of course they don't do that. Foreclosing on a property is very expensive for lender and they'll only do it if there is good indication that the borrower won't come current.

Diane is right, your note will tell you when you are considered to be in default. The actual foreclosure procedures vary from state to state. If you are in a judicial foreclosure state, it takes a lot longer to complete the process than in a state like CA where we for the most part follow non-judicial foreclosure procedures for home loans.

I would highly recommend that you contact your lender a.s.a.p. if you have not already done so. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they get behind with their payments is that they ignore phone calls and mail notifications. You have to talk to them and let them know you want to work with them on a payment plan. I hope this helps and good luck to you.

Check your mortgage note. It will have the circumstances from which your mortgage company can start foreclosure proceedings. It varies by lender. Generally, it is after 3 months, but your note will tell you exactly what their procedure is.
If you are 2 months behind, you should contact your lender for guidance, assistance in getting current.