Our experienced bankruptcy attorney in Queens can guide you through the filing process and help you set up a repayment plan. If you are in a foreclosure court case, you should consult an attorney.Seek Legal Assistance. The Plaintiff files a foreclosure lawsuit to ask the court to sell the home to repay the mortgage debt. You must have filed income tax returns if required. Avoiding a Full Foreclosure on Record: Completing a sale before foreclosure allows you to avoid a foreclosure mark on your credit report. The foreclosure process in New York can take 3 to 5 years on average for a contested foreclosure, meaning the borrower responded. When you are included in the lien sale, the City of New York sells your debt to an authorized buyer. The buyer then has the right to collect what you owe. Ronald D. Weiss, ESQ.