how far do you have to be behind on your mortgage

[wendy h]

payments before it goes into foreclosure?

[Lew-V]

it depends on your lender. typically they get really concerned if you miss the second one, and i would expect to see a NOD (notice of default, start of the foreclosure process) filed after the third one. but i have seen payments in arrears as long as 1 year, sometimes longer, but i wouldn't count on that. those lenders were obviously asleep at the helm.