You have 28 days from the date that the foreclosure complaint arrived at your house to file an answer to the Complaint. The length of time between the filing of a foreclosure case and the confirmation of the sheriff's sale of the house (the event that causes ownership of the home to shift from the homeowner to the buyer at the sheriff's sale) can differ based on the county you live in and your level of participation in the case. Most foreclosure cases take at least 6 months from the date of the filing of the complaint up to the confirmation of the sheriff's sale. While this may seem like a long time, it is critical that you act quickly to take steps to save your home.