What happens to your credit with a foreclosure?
Isabella Turner
Updated on January 28, 2026
A foreclosure stays on your credit report for seven years from the date of the first related delinquency, but its impact on your credit score will likely diminish earlier than that. Even after your credit score rebounds, however, a foreclosure on your credit report may hinder your ability to get a new mortgage.
Will I lose my credit cards after foreclosure?
A foreclosure remains on your credit report for seven years but its impact on the score lessens over time, My FICO says. Although it is a serious credit event, it does not ruin your credit for a long time and your score can rebound in as little as two years if you maintain all other accounts in good standing.
What happens if you have to foreclose?
For example, foreclosure could result in you: owing the mortgage company the deficiency balance of your mortgage (the deficiency balance is the remaining total mortgage balance after the sale price of the home) lengthening the time you could receive a Fannie Mae mortgage to purchase your next home to at least 7 years.
Do you still owe the bank after foreclosure?
After foreclosure, you might still owe your bank some money (the deficiency), but the security (your house) is gone. So, the deficiency is now an unsecured debt. One of these documents was a promissory note, in which you promised to repay the mortgage debt to your lender.
How can I fix my credit after foreclosure?
Rebuilding Credit After a Foreclosure
- Identify the cause of your foreclosure.
- Pay your bills on time.
- Make a budget and stick to it.
- Get a secured credit card.
- Keep an eye on your credit utilization ratio.
- Seek a professional’s help.
- Check your credit scores and reports regularly.
- Be patient.
How long does it take to rebuild credit after foreclosure?
Foreclosures remain on your credit report for seven years, which can mean a big dent in your credit score. CNBC Select takes a look at how to bounce back. Similar to medical debt and certain bankruptcies, it takes seven years for foreclosures to disappear from your credit report.
Can you fix your credit after foreclosure?
After your home is foreclosed upon, you can immediately start taking steps to restore your credit. To improve your credit after a foreclosure, you may need to overhaul your credit and debt habits so your credit report will reflect only positive information going forward.
How long does it take for a bank to foreclose on a house?
It takes several months for a lender to foreclose on a California property. If everything goes according to schedule, the process typically takes approximately 120 days — about four months — but the process can take as long as 200 or more days to conclude.
What happens to your credit score after a foreclosure?
A foreclosure will remain on your credit report for the next seven years and pull down your overall rating by 85 to 160 points, according to the Fair Isaac Corp. Add to that the impact of delinquent payments and any other negative financial events and your overall score deduction may total about 250 points.
How does a timeshare foreclosure affect my credit score?
A Lower Credit Score Affects Your Ability to Get Credit. A timeshare foreclosure will not ruin your credit score forever, but it could have a significant impact on your ability to obtain another mortgage for up to seven years.
How does a deed in lieu of foreclosure affect your credit?
Foreclosure or Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure: Both of these solutions affect credit the same, says David Steep of Vitek Mortgage. Sellers will take a hit of 200 to 300 points, depending on the overall condition of credit. This means if a seller’s FICO score before the foreclosure was 680, it could dip as low as 380.
Are there any problems with going through foreclosure?
The main problem with going through foreclosure is, of course, the fact that you will be forced out of your home. You’ll need to find another place to live, and the process is stressful (among other things) for you and your family. Foreclosure can also be expensive.