94 Hours

Every week, I get calls from families about to lose their homes. Sometimes, those calls end with a click. Last week, a desperate father hung up on me, but something told me to keep trying. Here's what happened when we got back on the phone:

• A father of two loses his job twice in 18 months

• He can't secure a forbearance or loan modification before foreclosure

• Within days of our first contact, we stop the sale and help put this head of household back in the driver's seat

When time is running out, having an experienced partner can make the difference between losing everything and saving what matters most.

Note: While this story is based on real events, some details have been changed to protect the privacy of the individuals involved.

👋 Are you a real estate professional who encounters distressed property situations? Let's partner to help more families like Marcus's.

When Hope Hangs Up

When you're 48 hours away from losing your family's home, hope feels like a luxury you can't afford. 

I learned that firsthand when Marcus hung up on me. But something in his voice – the raw desperation of a man out of options – told me to keep trying.

What I didn't know then was just how quickly his world had collapsed. 

The first job loss hit in early 2023, another casualty of the post-pandemic economy. He bounced back, found new work, only to lose that position too in the summer of 2024. Each setback devoured more of their savings until the mortgage payments became impossible to make.

"Who's impacted?" I asked when we finally reconnected.

His voice cracked slightly: "My wife, my daughter, and my niece."

The Stakes

By the time Marcus reached out to us, his family had already exhausted every traditional option. 

They'd tried working with their lender – filing for forbearance, requesting loan modifications, even attempting direct negotiations. They'd asked family and friends for help. 

Each "no" brought them closer to Tuesday morning's foreclosure auction.

The numbers were staggering: $24,000 just to stop the foreclosure, with a total payoff of over $150,000 looming behind it. And the clock was ticking. Banks don't process wire transfers on weekends, which meant we had less than one business day to prevent the auction.

Every hour that passed was another hour closer to this family of four losing their home.

The Race Against Time

"If I could do anything to help, would you want to hear about it?" I asked.

This time, Marcus didn't hang up. Instead, his voice shifted from despair to determination. While he was out of town, his wife Sarah sprang into action, gathering crucial documents within hours. 

"I can be home in fifteen minutes," Marcus said when we needed signatures. "Just tell me when."

The foreclosure trustee needed confirmation. The title company needed documentation. And somewhere in the middle of all this was a family wondering if they'd have a home on Tuesday morning.

But there's something powerful about watching a family fight for their home. Marcus and Sarah weren't just waiting to be rescued – they were partners in their own salvation.

The Solution

When every minute counts, you don't have time for traditional real estate solutions. 

We crafted a plan that would solve everyone's problems: The bank would get their loan current. The trustee would cancel the foreclosure. Marcus's family would get breathing room – 60 days+ of free stay in the home and money in their pocket for the next chapter.

By early Tuesday morning, our team had coordinated with the lender, submitted the reinstatement payment, and confirmed with the trustee that the foreclosure was cancelled. 

In less than 4 days, we'd turned "impossible" into "done."

For the first time in months, Marcus and his family could breathe again. They had time to plan, money to move forward, and most importantly – their dignity intact.

A New Chapter

Today, Marcus and his family are collecting themselves and planning their move, but there are thousands of other families facing the same ticking clock Marcus faced. 

Some of them might be your neighbors. They might be your clients. 

If you know someone facing foreclosure, don't wait. Every hour counts. The earlier you can get a trusted and experienced partner involved, the more likely you are to help avoid the worst.