Foreclosure surplus funds recovery
Your home sold at foreclosure for more than you owed? The extra money may belong to you.
Many former homeowners never find out that money was left over after their foreclosure sale. Surplus Funds Consulting helps former owners and their families recover foreclosure surplus funds, so a hard chapter can end with something back in your hands.
Received a letter from us? Start here.
- Private company, not a government office
- You can always claim on your own
- Fees in writing before any work starts
Where the money from a foreclosure sale goes
Illustrative example. Real amounts and the order of payment depend on the state and the case.
How we help
We find it, explain it, and pursue it with you
Recovering surplus funds means dealing with court records, deadlines, lien claims and paperwork, often in a county you no longer live in. We take that weight off your shoulders.
Research before we ever reach out
We review public foreclosure sale records to identify sales that may have produced surplus funds and the people who may have a right to them.
Plain answers about your situation
We tell you what the record shows, who else may have a claim, and what the process looks like in your state, including how to do it yourself.
The recovery work, under a written agreement
If you choose to work with us, we handle the claim process within what your state allows and bring in a licensed attorney when the case requires one.
See exactly what we do, what an attorney does, and what you do →
The short answer
Can you get money back after a foreclosure?
Sometimes, yes
When a foreclosure sale brings in more than the debt and the costs of the sale, the leftover money is called surplus funds or excess proceeds. The lender cannot keep it. The former owner, and in some cases junior lienholders or heirs, must file a claim to receive it.
Home equity and surplus funds are not the same thing
Your equity was the difference between what your home was worth and what you owed while you owned it. Surplus funds are what remains after a foreclosure sale, which usually brings in less than full market value and pays sale costs and debts first.
So a foreclosure rarely returns all of your equity. But if the sale price beat the debt, part of it may still be waiting for you.
Who may be entitled
Who can claim the extra money after a foreclosure?
Most states follow a similar order, though the details vary. Being named in a record does not by itself prove a right to the money.
Former homeowners
The owner of record when the foreclosure began is usually first in line for what remains after liens are paid.
Who can claim →Heirs and estates
If the former owner has died, the estate or heirs may be able to claim, often with probate paperwork.
Surplus funds for heirs →Junior lienholders
Second mortgages, HOAs and judgment creditors may be paid from the surplus before the former owner.
How liens affect surplus →Did we contact you?
Received a letter from Surplus Funds Consulting?
We research public foreclosure records and contact people who may have a right to surplus funds. A letter from us is not a bill and not a government notice. It means our research suggests money may be connected to a property you owned.
Check us out first. Then verify the funds yourself with the court or office holding them. When you are ready, we will explain your options.
Have your letter handy?
Your letter has a reference code that looks like SFC-12345. Enter it when you contact us and we can find your file quickly.
Your choice
Claim it yourself, or have us handle it
Both are legitimate paths. Here is an honest comparison so you can decide.
Doing it yourself
- No fee to anyone except possible court or clerk charges
- You find the case, the office holding the funds and the deadline
- You gather proof of ownership and identity, and file the claim
- You respond to competing lien claims and any hearing
- Works well for simple cases with no other liens or heirs
Working with us
- We bring the research we have already done on the sale
- We identify the office, the deadline and the paperwork
- We prepare and track the claim, and follow up until it resolves
- We coordinate with a licensed attorney when a court filing or dispute requires one
- Our fee is explained in a written agreement before any work begins
What happens when you contact us
A clear process, from first call to final payment
You reach out
Call us or send a short form. If you received a letter, include your reference code.
We review your inquiry
We look at what we know about the sale and tell you whether it is a case we are able to take on in your state. We do not research every inquiry, and contacting us does not obligate you to anything.
You decide, with the terms in writing
If we can help, we give you a written agreement that explains our fee and the work involved. Take your time and review it with family or an attorney.
We pursue the claim
After the agreement is signed, we do the detailed case work and handle the claim process within what your state's law allows.
The funds are released
The court or office holding the money releases it as the law directs. Timing depends on the state, the court and whether anyone else makes a claim.
Protect yourself
How to tell a legitimate offer from a bad one
Surplus funds attract some aggressive operators. Whoever you talk to, including us, you deserve straight answers.
- Be careful with anyone who asks for money upfront to "release" your funds.
- Be careful with pressure to sign today, or claims that the money disappears tomorrow.
- Read any agreement before signing. Know the fee, and whether you are selling your claim outright.
- Some states limit what recovery companies can charge or require specific disclosures.
Guides
Learn how foreclosure surplus works
What are foreclosure surplus funds?
Equity, surplus and how a sale's proceeds are paid out.
Read the guide →How to recover surplus funds
Finding the case, the office and the claim process.
Read the guide →Surplus funds vs. tax overages
Three different pots of money that people often confuse.
Read the guide →Common questions
Questions people ask first
Does the lender keep the extra money from a foreclosure sale?
No. After the sale costs and the debt being foreclosed are paid, along with any other amounts your state's law requires, the remaining money belongs to the people with a legal right to it, such as junior lienholders and the former owner.
How do I know if there was a surplus from my foreclosure?
The court file or the trustee's report of sale shows the sale price and how the money was paid out. You can ask the clerk of the court in the county where the sale happened, or the trustee who ran the sale.
Do I have to pay someone to get my surplus funds?
No. You may be able to file a claim yourself with the court or office holding the funds. Some people choose help because the process is unfamiliar, involves other claimants, or is in a county far from where they live now.
Is there a deadline to claim foreclosure surplus funds?
Often, yes. Rules differ by state. In some states, unclaimed surplus is eventually sent to the state's unclaimed property program, which adds another step to recover it.
What does your service cost?
It costs nothing to ask us a question. If we can take on your case, our fee and how it is calculated are set out in a written agreement before any work begins. Some states limit what recovery companies may charge, and we follow those limits.
Find out whether a foreclosure left money for you
Tell us about the property and how you are connected to it. We will let you know whether we can help, and what your options are.
Prefer to talk? Call (678) 616-7527