Stop Foreclosure in Bakersfield and Kern County
In Kern County, a lot of household budgets ride on oil, farm work and seasonal hours, and a few slow months can push a mortgage behind. If that's where you are, you can often stop foreclosure in Bakersfield and the rest of Kern County, or at least protect your equity, as long as you don't wait for the sale date to act. This page lays out the local details and your options.
Eviction Defender provides guidance and document preparation, not legal representation. We help you understand your notices, gather your documents and plan next steps. Our stop foreclosure hub has the statewide overview.
Where Kern County Foreclosure Notices Are Recorded
Foreclosure notices on Kern County property are recorded by the Kern County Assessor-Recorder. Recording is handled at the Recorder's office at 1530 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield, and copies of recorded documents are available at the Hall of Records, 1655 Chester Avenue. The office's main number is 661-868-6400.
The first recorded step is normally the Notice of Default. Under federal rules, a servicer generally can't make the first foreclosure filing until the loan is more than 120 days delinquent. If you're behind but haven't received an NOD, see our guide to missed payments before foreclosure.
From Default to Trustee Sale in Kern County
The trustee must wait at least three months after the NOD before recording a Notice of Trustee Sale, and must give that notice at least 20 days before the sale. Kern County sales are held at the place named in that notice. Trustees set the location, so the address in your notice is the one to trust, and you should confirm the date with the trustee because sales are often moved.
FHA, VA and USDA loans
Many Kern County homes are financed with FHA, VA or USDA loans. Each program has its own loss-mitigation options, so ask your servicer which ones apply to your loan type and get the answer in writing.
Cities and towns we serve
We help homeowners in Bakersfield, Oildale, Lamont, Arvin, Shafter, Wasco, Delano, McFarland, Taft, Tehachapi, Ridgecrest, California City, Rosamond, Mojave and Frazier Park.
How to Stop Foreclosure in Bakersfield: Options by Stage
After the Notice of Default
Apply for a loan modification, forbearance or repayment plan, and make sure the application is complete. California's Homeowner Bill of Rights generally prevents a servicer from moving ahead with a sale while a complete modification application is pending, with conditions. You can also reinstate by paying the missed amount plus fees.
Once the sale is scheduled
Reinstatement stays available until five business days before the sale, and you can pay off the full loan before the sale. If you can't do either, selling the home before the auction may protect your equity and your credit better than a foreclosure. Our guide to selling fast to stop foreclosure explains how.
After the sale
There is no right of redemption after a nonjudicial trustee sale. Your focus shifts to moving out on fair terms and recovering any money owed to you. A buyer may offer cash for keys. If the sale price beat the debts, the trustee holds the surplus for the former owner and junior lienholders, and you can claim it yourself without a finder. If the new owner files an eviction, see our Bakersfield eviction help page.
Finding a HUD-Approved Counselor From Kern County
HUD's list of approved counseling agencies changes over time, and in-person options inside Kern County may be limited. That doesn't mean you're on your own. Several HUD-approved agencies counsel by phone, including:
- NID Housing Counseling Agency, Palmdale office: 661-526-4013
- GreenPath Financial Wellness (phone counseling): 866-217-0543
- Money Management International: 866-232-9080
HUD's counselor line, 800-569-4287, can also refer you to an approved agency that serves Kern County.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are foreclosure notices recorded in Kern County?
With the Kern County Assessor-Recorder. Documents are recorded at 1530 Truxtun Avenue in Bakersfield, and copies are available at the Hall of Records at 1655 Chester Avenue. The main number is 661-868-6400.
Where are Bakersfield trustee sales held?
At the location printed in your Notice of Trustee Sale. The trustee chooses the site, so check your notice and confirm the date, since sales are often postponed.
Is there a HUD-approved housing counselor in Kern County?
In-person options in Kern County may be limited, so check HUD's current list. Agencies such as NID Housing Counseling Agency in Palmdale, GreenPath and Money Management International counsel by phone, and HUD's line at 800-569-4287 can refer you.
Can I stop foreclosure in Bakersfield if my income is seasonal?
Possibly. Explain the seasonal pattern to your servicer and ask about forbearance, a repayment plan or a modification. A complete application can also limit the servicer from moving ahead with a sale while it's pending.
What if my Kern County home already sold at auction?
You can't buy it back after a nonjudicial trustee sale, but you may be able to negotiate cash for keys with the buyer and claim any surplus funds held by the trustee.
Eviction Defender is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This article is general information about California law as of 2026.
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