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Foreclosure and tax sales in New Hampshire

What our research shows about New Hampshire's rules. General information with sources — not legal advice, and not a reading of your papers.

BasicThe essentials, each with its source. General deadlines only.Research last reviewed 2026-09-22

Your state

How foreclosure works

Usual process: Nonjudicial (out of court)
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Allowed processes: Judicial (through court) · Nonjudicial (out of court)
From a reputable summary[1]
Main statutes: N.H. Rev. Stat. § 479:25; N.H. Rev. Stat. § 479:18; N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:6
From a reputable summary[1]
Typical length (estimate): Not researched yet for this state.

+At least 120 days
Federal rule: the servicer generally cannot make the first foreclosure notice or filing until you are more than 120 days behind
Applies to most home loans in every state. A complete loss-mitigation application sent more than 37 days before a sale also triggers federal protections.
Checked against the official text12 CFR § 1024.41(f)(1)
Notice of default or breach letter
State law gives just one warning — the notice of sale. Your mortgage may require a breach letter first.
From a reputable summary
Notice of sale — at least 45 days before the sale
Served or mailed at least 45 days before the sale, and published once a week for three weeks.
From a reputable summary
+At least 45 days
Foreclosure sale
From a reputable summary
No right to redeem after the sale
You may pay off the whole loan before the sale; no redemption after it.
From a reputable summary

A general sequence built from the rules above. "At least" periods are the shortest we found; your case can take longer.

Notice before foreclosure: State law gives just one warning — the notice of sale. Your mortgage may require a breach letter first.
From a reputable summary[1]
Notice of sale: At least 45 daysServed or mailed at least 45 days before the sale, and published once a week for three weeks.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 479:25
From a reputable summary[1]
Publication: Newspaper once a week for three weeks.
From a reputable summary[1]
When sales happen: Not researched yet for this state.

Catching up (reinstatement): No statutory reinstatement right.
From a reputable summary[2]
Buying the home back (redemption): NoYou may pay off the whole loan before the sale; no redemption after it.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 479:18
From a reputable summary[1][2]
Owing money after the sale (deficiency): YesBy separate suit; the lender must show the sale price was fair and reasonable.
N.H. Rev. Stat. § 508:6
From a reputable summary[1]
Mediation: Not researched yet for this state.

Tax sale system: Mixed / depends on locality
A tax sale (percentage-interest auction) or, where adopted, the “alternative tax lien procedure” that ends with a deed to the town.
From a reputable summary[3]
How it works: Taxes are delinquent after Dec. 1. For a sale, notice is sent by registered mail and posted 25 days before; for the lien procedure, notice comes at least 30 days before the lien is executed.
From a reputable summary[3]
Redeeming after a tax sale: Two years (after the sale or the lien execution); partial payments are allowed; a certified notice comes at least 30 days before the deed.
N.H. Rev. Stat. §§ 80:32, 80:33-a, 80:38-a, 80:71, 80:76, 80:77
From a reputable summary[3]
Relief programs: Not researched yet for this state.
Payment plans: Partial redemption payments are accepted during the two years.
From a reputable summary[3]
Surplus after a tax sale: Not researched yet for this state.

Federal exemption list: You may choose the federal list
You may choose the federal bankruptcy exemption list (11 U.S.C. § 522(d)) instead of the state list — one list or the other, never a mix.
From a reputable summary[4]
Homestead exemption: $400,000 ($550,000 joint)$400,000 ($550,000 claimed together); home must have been your primary residence for the prior 12 months.(N.H. Rev. Stat. § 480:1)
From a reputable summary[5]

Free legal aid (LSC-funded): 603 Legal Aid
Checked against the official text[7]
Legal help website: NHLegalAid.org
The official site blocked our automated check on 2026-09-22; confirm the page before relying on it.
Not confirmed — check it[8]
State housing agency: New Hampshire Housing
Checked against the official text[6]
Attorney general / consumer protection: New Hampshire Attorney General — Consumer Protection
The official site blocked our automated check on 2026-09-22; confirm the page before relying on it.
Not confirmed — check it[9]
Court self-help: New Hampshire Judicial Branch — Self-Help
The official site blocked our automated check on 2026-09-22; confirm the page before relying on it.
Not confirmed — check it[10]
HUD-approved housing counselors: HUD-approved housing counseling agencies — Free or low-cost, HUD-approved housing counselors in every state. Call or search by ZIP code.

Retrieved 2026-09-22. Official texts are marked “official”; summaries are marked “summary”.