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A quiet bedroom corner with a plant and warm natural light

Six paths. I’m not here to sell you anything.

If you’re facing foreclosure, you have more options than most people realize. Let’s walk through all six — then you pick the one that fits.

The Six Options

All six paths, at a glance.

  1. 01.
    Reinstate
    Catch up on missed payments and fees within the cure period. I refer you to a HUD-approved housing counselor — free, neutral.
  2. 02.
    Loan modification
    Negotiate new terms with your lender. Same referral path.
  3. 03.
    List traditionally through Compass
    With Compass Concierge fronting up to $50K in pre-list prep (paint, light remodel, staging — no interest, recouped at closing). Best if you have equity and 60+ days until auction.
  4. 04.
    Sell off-market
    Quiet sale through Compass Private Exclusive or Coming Soon — a vetted buyer from my network, no MLS, no showings, no open houses.
  5. 05.
    Short sale
    Sell for less than the mortgage balance, lender accepts the shortfall. Avoids a foreclosure on your record.
  6. 06.
    Cash offer through The GoWest Group
    My company makes a direct cash offer. Close in about 10 days, single GC walkthrough, as-is. You usually net less than a full listing — I’m upfront about that.

Want the full breakdown? See all six options in depth →

“Most of the people I talk to don’t end up selling to me. That’s fine. I’m here to make sure you know all six paths before you make a decision you can’t undo.”
Steve West · The GoWest Group at Compass

Three ways to start a conversation.

Call or text
415.305.1082
Or text the same number. I answer my own phone.
A short read on all six paths — emailed to you, then opens for download.
Or have Steve call you
Thanks — Steve will call you back. If it’s urgent, you can also reach him directly at 415.305.1082.
Common questions in this situation

Frequently asked.

What is pre-foreclosure, exactly?

Pre-foreclosure is the window between when you fall behind on your mortgage and when the lender actually takes the home back at auction. In California, it usually starts when the lender records a Notice of Default — a public filing that resets a roughly 120-day clock. You still own the home during that window. You can still sell it, refinance it, or work things out with the lender. None of that is true once the auction happens, which is why the window matters.

How long do I usually have before foreclosure happens?

In California, the typical timeline from Notice of Default to auction is around four to seven months — sometimes longer. The Notice of Default starts a 90-day cure period. After that, the lender can record a Notice of Trustee’s Sale, which sets an auction date at least 21 days out. Every situation is different, and lenders sometimes pause the process for negotiation. The honest answer is: more time than most people fear, less than they assume. Knowing your specific date is the first thing to figure out.

Is talking to you the same as listing my home with you?

No. A conversation is just a conversation. About a third of the people I talk to end up listing traditionally, about a third work it out with their lender and keep the home, about a third sell to me directly. I’m fine with any of those outcomes. There’s no listing agreement to sign before we talk, and there’s no obligation after.

What does this conversation cost me?

Nothing. The call is free, and if you want, I’ll send a written analysis within 48 hours — what each of the six paths is likely to net you, what each costs, what the timing looks like. No fee for that either. You decide from there. If you eventually list with me or sell to my company, the commission or purchase price covers my time. If you don’t, that’s also fine.

Will my credit be affected if I sell now?

A traditional sale or an off-market sale, completed before the foreclosure goes through, generally doesn’t damage your credit the way a foreclosure or short sale can. A short sale will show up on your credit, but typically less severely than a completed foreclosure. The specifics depend on your lender, your loan type, and what’s already been reported. This is a question worth running by a HUD-approved housing counselor or an attorney — I’m happy to point you to one.

Can I stay in my home while we figure this out?

Yes. You stay in the home through the entire pre-foreclosure window, and through any sale process — whether that’s a traditional listing, an off-market sale, or a cash offer to my company. You don’t move out until closing. If you’re working on reinstatement or a loan modification with the lender, the goal is to keep you in the home permanently. The pressure to leave is usually further out than it feels.

When you’re ready to sell →