My home just went to trustee sale. How long do I have before I have to move?

When a property sells at trustee sale there are only two possible outcomes. The property is either sold to a third party investor or it is now bank owned. If a third party investor purchases the property, they will likely make contact within 2 to 3 weeks to determine who is living in the home and whether or not you intend to move soon.

If the property went back to the bank it may take a couple of days or longer for a bank representative to contact the occupants. The bank representative will also try to determine who is living in the property and if you intend to move.

It is usually in the best interest of the occupants to talk to the bank/investor. This is typically when a cash-for-keys offer can be negotiated. Keep in mind that the lender/investor is under no obligation to offer a cash-for-keys incentive where they pay you to leave quickly and leave the property clean.

They could simply serve the appropriate notice. In California this would be a 3-day notice for an owner and a renter on a month-to-month rental agreement would be given a 90-day notice. If there is a long term lease in place, signed prior to the filing of the Notice of Default, then the investor/lender is required to allow you to stay until the end of the lease term under the Protecting Tenants in Foreclosure Act, subject to certain exceptions (for example it has to be a real lease, at fair market rents, and you have to make the payments).