Find a bankruptcy attorney in Nolo's Lawyer Directory!


Resources on Foreclosure, Credit & Debt, and Bankruptcy

Foreclosure Survival Guide

Own a copy of this helpful reference from Nolo, the #1 consumer legal publisher. Available in paperback and eBook formats.

Buy the book >

Browse related Nolo products >

Foreclosure Survival Guide (1st Edition)


Pennsylvania
Topic State Rule
Common type of foreclosure process Judicial
Time to respond Foreclosing party must serve 30-day notice of intention to foreclose on homeowner by certified mail. At the same time it must send a separate notice explaining homeowner’s right to apply to Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for assistance. After foreclosing party files foreclosure lawsuit, homeowner has 20 to 30 days to respond.
Reinstatement of loan before sale Until one hour before the bidding at the foreclosure sale, but a maximum of three times in one year.
Redemption after sale No
Special protections for foreclosures involving high-cost mortgages None
Special state protections for service members Pa. Stat. Ann. tit. 51, § 4105
Deficiency judgments Allowed if foreclosing party files separate lawsuit after sale
Cash exempted in bankruptcy About $11,000 for one person, $22,000 for a married couple under federal bankruptcy exemptions
Notice to leave after house is sold No special provisions for evictions following foreclosure. New owner will likely have to go to court to get an eviction order. Court-ordered evictions usually take two weeks to a month, depending on whether or not former owner responds to the lawsuit.
Foreclosure statutes Pa. Stat. Ann. tit. 35, §§ 1680.402c to 1680.409c; Pa. Stat. Ann. tit. 41, §§ 403 to 404; Pa. R. Civ. P. 1141-1150