Bakersfield · Kern County
Facing Foreclosure in Bakersfield, CA? Your Options
If you are behind on payments on a Bakersfield house, you likely have more time and more options than you think. House Junkies, a Visalia company, can buy your house for cash before the sale date. As long as the sale covers what you owe, your loan and the past-due amount are paid off at closing, the foreclosure stops, and any equity left over goes to you.
Bakersfield is the ninth-largest city in California and the seat of Kern County, with a large enough footprint that it spans over a dozen ZIP codes and housing stock ranging from historic downtown properties to large newer subdivisions in the southwest.
The city is closely associated with country music history as the birthplace of the "Bakersfield Sound," made famous by Buck Owens and Merle Haggard.
Foreclosure in Bakersfield and Kern County
Most California foreclosures run through a trustee, not a courtroom. For a Bakersfield house, the Notice of Default and later the Notice of Trustee Sale are recorded with the Kern County Recorder, which makes them public record. That is why many Bakersfield homeowners start getting letters and calls from investors right after a notice is filed. The realistic minimum from a first missed payment to an actual sale is around 230 days, and you can stop the process by catching up on the past-due amount up until 5 business days before the sale.
Unpaid property taxes are a separate risk. If they go unpaid long enough, the Kern County Tax Collector can sell the property at a tax-defaulted property auction.
Help with the process itself is free. A HUD-approved housing counselor can walk you through your options at no cost, and anyone who asks you to pay upfront for foreclosure help is breaking California law. Our full California foreclosure guide covers all 5 options, including the 2025 law that lets a signed listing agreement push back a sale date. If back taxes or other liens are part of it, see selling a house with liens.
We buy houses facing foreclosure all over Bakersfield, including Downtown Bakersfield, Southwest Bakersfield, Northeast Bakersfield, Oleander, in zip codes 93301, 93304, 93305, 93306, 93307, 93309, 93311, 93312, 93313, 93314, and across Kern County.
Sources: Kern County Public Works Code Compliance
How Selling to House Junkies Works
- ✓ Tell us the address and what is going on with the house
- ✓ Get a written cash offer within 24 hours, with no obligation
- ✓ No repairs, no cleaning, no agent commissions
- ✓ We cover closing costs, and you choose the closing date
Foreclosure in Bakersfield: Common Questions
How long does foreclosure take on a Bakersfield house?
California foreclosures usually take at least about 230 days from the first missed payment to a sale, and often longer. That is time you can use.
Is my foreclosure public record in Kern County?
Yes. The Notice of Default and the Notice of Trustee Sale are recorded with the Kern County Recorder, so anyone can look them up.
What if I owe more on my Bakersfield house than it is worth?
Then the lender has to agree to take less, which is called a short sale. Call us and we will tell you honestly whether a cash sale can work.
How fast can House Junkies close before my sale date?
Often within one to two weeks, depending on title and how fast your lender sends the payoff. The sooner you call, the more room there is.
Other Situations We Buy In Bakersfield
Foreclosure in Nearby Cities
See everything about selling your house in Bakersfield, or read our full guide to foreclosure in California.