San Bernardino County Foreclosure Resources
Complete guide to the foreclosure process in San Bernardino County, California. Courthouse addresses, filing procedures, timelines, mediation options, and local legal aid — everything you need to defend your home.
Response within 24 hours
Foreclosure Type
Non-Judicial
Avg. Timeline
120+ days
Mediation
Not Mandatory
Population
2.2 million
San Bernardino County Foreclosure Timeline
California is primarily a non-judicial foreclosure state. The process moves outside the court system through a trustee — and it moves fast. Understanding each phase is critical.
When a homeowner in San Bernardino County defaults, the trustee records a Notice of Default (NOD) with the County Recorder and mails a copy to the borrower. California law guarantees at least 90 days from recording to reinstate the loan by paying all past-due amounts plus commonly-used fees and costs. With one of the largest foreclosure volumes among California counties, acting within this window is especially important.
The trustee records and publishes a Notice of Trustee's Sale, posts it at the courthouse of the county and other public places, and mails it to the borrower at least 20 days before the sale. The notice sets out the sale date, time, and place, and the recorded trustee sale documents.
Sales are conducted on a business day at the time and location named in the notice — commonly at or near the San Bernardino County courthouse complex in downtown San Bernardino or a designated trustee sale location. The property is sold to the highest bidder for cash. The trustee may postpone the sale by public announcement.
Once the Trustee's Deed Upon Sale is recorded, there is no statutory right of redemption in a California non-judicial foreclosure. The homeowner must exhaust reinstatement, a loan modification, a short sale, a deed-in-lieu, or a court action before the sale to preserve ownership.
Courthouse & County Offices
San Bernardino County Courthouse (Superior Court)
303 W 3rd St, San Bernardino, CA 92415
(909) 708-8678
Mon–Fri 8:00AM–4:00PM
Victorville District Courthouse
14455 Civic Dr, Victorville, CA 92392
(760) 245-5390
Mon–Fri 8:00AM–4:00PM
Clerk of Court
San Bernardino Superior Court — Clerk
Processes filings for litigated foreclosure-related claims in San Bernardino County. Non-judicial trustee sales operate outside the court system.
County Recorder
San Bernardino County Assessor-Recorder-Clerk
Sheriff / Sale Info
San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
655 E 3rd St, San Bernardino, CA 92415
(909) 387-3700
In California, non-judicial sales are run by the substitute trustee, not the Sheriff. The Sheriff's Civil Division carries out the unlawful-detainer eviction and lockout after a completed foreclosure.
Is Mediation Available?
California does not maintain a mandatory statewide foreclosure mediation program. San Bernardino County homeowners are protected through the Homeowner Bill of Rights (HBOR): a required single point of contact, a prohibition on dual tracking, and a written denial with reasons if a modification is refused. Voluntary mediation is occasionally arranged through a court action or nonprofit counseling, but it is not automatic for a trustee sale.
Filing Requirements
- •Notice of Default must be recorded with the County Recorder and mailed to the borrower
- •At least 90 days from NOD recording before a sale may occur (reinstatement window)
- •Notice of Trustee's Sale must be recorded, posted, published for 3 weeks, and mailed at least 20 days before the sale
- •California recording and mailing rules are strict — violations can support a wrongful foreclosure claim
- •A complete loan-modification application at least 37 days before the sale triggers HBOR dual-tracking protection
- •No right of redemption after the non-judicial sale is completed
Key Statutes
California Civil Code § 2924
Cal. Civ. Code § 2924
Governing statute for the California non-judicial foreclosure (trustee's sale) process, including notice and publication.
California Homeowner Bill of Rights
Cal. Civ. Code §§ 2920.5, 2923.4 et seq.
Protects borrowers with a single point of contact, a ban on dual tracking, and written denial reasons.
California Code of Civil Procedure §§ 580b, 580d
Cal. Code Civ. Proc. §§ 580b, 580d
Anti-deficiency protections barring deficiency judgments against most residential borrowers after a trustee sale.
Right of Redemption
California provides no post-sale right of redemption in a non-judicial foreclosure, so once the Trustee's Deed is recorded the San Bernardino home cannot be reclaimed by paying the sale price. Preserving ownership happens before the sale through reinstatement, modification, a short sale, a deed-in-lieu, or a timely court action. A redemption right exists only in a rare judicial foreclosure (3 months or 1 year depending on the sale proceeds).
Deficiency Judgments
Almost never applies to a residential borrower. California bars a deficiency after a non-judicial trustee's sale of residential 1-4 unit property (Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 580d) and protects purchase-money loans on owner-occupied homes under § 580b. A San Bernardino homeowner should not expect a post-sale deficiency judgment.
Legal Aid
Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino
Free legal services for low-income residents across San Bernardino County, including foreclosure defense, loss-mitigation review, and homeownership counseling.
Inland Counties Legal Services
Free civil legal assistance for qualifying residents, including foreclosure-related counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop a trustee's sale in San Bernardino County?+
There is no lawsuit to answer in a non-judicial sale. You stop a sale by completing a loan modification, reinstatement, short sale, or deed-in-lieu before the sale, or by filing a court action in San Bernardino Superior Court seeking an injunction or other relief (for example for a Homeowner Bill of Rights violation). Bankruptcy triggers the automatic stay and pauses the sale.
Where are foreclosure sales held in San Bernardino County?+
Trustee sales occur on a business day at the time and place stated in the published Notice of Trustee's Sale — commonly at or near the San Bernardino County Superior Court complex. They are conducted by the trustee named in the deed of trust, not by the Court or the Sheriff, and are auctions to the highest cash bidder.
How long do I have to reinstate my San Bernardino loan?+
At least 90 days from the recording of the Notice of Default. During that window you can reinstate by paying all past-due amounts plus allowed fees and costs, and no sale can occur until the period runs. This is one of the longest cure windows among non-judicial states.
Will the bank pursue me for the balance after foreclosure?+
Generally no. California's § 580d bars a deficiency judgment against most residential borrowers after a non-judicial trustee sale, and purchase-money loans on owner-occupied homes are protected outright under § 580b. High-foreclosure-county residents still receive the same state anti-deficiency protections.
Where can I get free help in San Bernardino County?+
Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino and Inland Counties Legal Services offer free help to qualifying low-income residents. HUD-approved housing counselors across the Inland Empire (including San Bernardino, Fontana, Ontario, and Victorville) help negotiate loss mitigation.
More Resources for San Bernardino County Homeowners
California Foreclosure Laws
Complete state-level guide to foreclosure laws, timelines, and homeowner protections.
Foreclosure Defense
Comprehensive defense strategies to stop or delay foreclosure in any U.S. county.
Free Case Review
Talk to our team about your situation — 100% free and confidential. Same-day response.
Facing Foreclosure in San Bernardino County?
Every county has different rules. We understand them all. Get a free, confidential case review and learn your options today.
Available Monday–Friday · 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Pacific