Key Takeaways

Key Takeaways A lis pendens is a public notice that freezes your ability to sell or refinance your High Point property during pending litigation High Point homeowners facing foreclosure or title disputes are most at risk, with Guilford County recording 847 lis pendens filings in 2025 You can still sell to cash buyers like HOMESELL USA even with an active lis pendens, protecting remaining equity Acting quickly is crucial — waiting too long can result in total equity loss through foreclosure or court judgments

Lis Pendens in High Point, NC: What Homeowners Need to Know About Protecting Their Property

Look, I've been buying houses in North Carolina for over 15 years, and I can tell you that nothing scares High Point homeowners more than getting that certified letter about a lis pendens. Last week, I had a homeowner call me in a panic because she found out her ex-husband had filed one against their old house on Eastchester Drive. She thought it meant she'd lost the property forever.

Here's the deal — a lis pendens doesn't mean game over, but it does mean you need to understand what you're dealing with and act fast. In Guilford County alone, we saw 847 lis pendens filings in 2025, and with High Point's housing market showing signs of stress in certain neighborhoods, more homeowners are finding themselves in this situation.

What Exactly is a Lis Pendens?

In plain English, "lis pendens" is Latin for "lawsuit pending." It's basically a public notice filed with the Guilford County Register of Deeds that says, "Hey, there's a legal dispute involving this property, so nobody should buy or sell it until we figure this out."

When someone files a lis pendens against your High Point property, it creates what we call a "cloud" on your title. This means:

• You can't sell the property through traditional means
• You can't refinance or get a home equity loan
• Any potential buyer will see the legal dispute in the public records
• The property is essentially frozen until the court case is resolved

I've seen this happen to homeowners in every High Point neighborhood — from the historic West End to newer developments near Oak Hollow Mall. It doesn't discriminate based on property value or location.

Common Situations That Lead to Lis Pendens in High Point

In my experience working with distressed properties across High Point, here are the most common scenarios where homeowners encounter lis pendens filings:

Foreclosure Proceedings

This is the big one. When you fall behind on mortgage payments, your lender will typically file a lis pendens as the first step in the foreclosure process. With High Point's median home price at $185,000 as of February 2026, and some neighborhoods still recovering from economic pressures, I'm seeing more foreclosure-related lis pendens than I'd like.

Divorce Disputes

When couples can't agree on what to do with the family home, one spouse might file a lis pendens to prevent the other from selling or transferring the property. I had a situation last month where a couple in Emerywood couldn't agree on selling their home, and it tied up a $240,000 property for eight months.

Title Disputes

Sometimes there are questions about who actually owns the property. This could be due to inheritance issues, deed problems, or boundary disputes with neighbors.

Contractor Liens

If you hired a contractor for work on your High Point home and there's a dispute about payment or quality of work, they might file a lis pendens along with their mechanic's lien.

How Lis Pendens Affects Your Ability to Sell

Here's where it gets tricky. A traditional real estate sale becomes nearly impossible with an active lis pendens. No title company will issue title insurance, and no mortgage lender will approve financing for a buyer when there's pending litigation on the property.

But — and this is important — it doesn't mean you're completely stuck. Cash buyers who specialize in distressed properties, like HOMESELL USA, can often work with lis pendens situations. We understand the legal process and can structure deals that protect everyone involved.

The key is acting quickly. Every month you wait, you're potentially losing equity. In High Point's current market, with inventory levels fluctuating and some areas seeing price pressures, time really is money.

Protecting Your Equity When Facing Lis Pendens

Look, I'm not going to sugarcoat this — a lis pendens is serious business. But you're not powerless. Here's what you need to know about protecting whatever equity you have left:

Understand the Timeline

In North Carolina, foreclosure proceedings can take anywhere from 4-8 months once a lis pendens is filed. That might sound like a lot of time, but legal processes move fast once they get rolling. Don't assume you have forever to figure things out.

Get Professional Help

Whether it's a real estate attorney, a HUD-approved housing counselor, or an experienced cash buyer, you need someone who understands North Carolina real estate law on your side. Don't try to navigate this alone.

Consider All Your Options

Traditional listing isn't going to work, but that doesn't mean you're out of options. Cash buyers who work with distressed properties can often close even with legal complications. We've helped dozens of High Point homeowners protect their equity this way.

Act Fast

I can't stress this enough — the longer you wait, the more equity you lose. Every month of carrying costs, legal fees, and market changes works against you.

The High Point Market Reality in 2026

High Point's housing market has shown resilience, but we're seeing increased pressure in certain sectors. The furniture industry changes have affected some neighborhoods more than others, and properties in areas like the Southwest High Point corridor are seeing different dynamics than established neighborhoods near Westchester Country Club.

What this means for homeowners facing lis pendens is that market conditions aren't going to save you. You can't count on appreciation to dig you out of a legal hole. The solution has to come from resolving the underlying dispute or finding a buyer who can work within the legal constraints.

How HOMESELL USA Handles Lis Pendens Situations

I've been dealing with complicated property situations for years, and lis pendens cases are some of the most challenging — but they're absolutely not hopeless. When a High Point homeowner calls us with a lis pendens situation, here's typically what happens:

First, we review the filing to understand exactly what type of legal dispute we're dealing with. A foreclosure lis pendens is handled differently than a divorce dispute or contractor lien situation.

Second, we work with our legal team to determine what options exist for a sale. Sometimes we can structure a deal where the proceeds go into escrow until the legal matter is resolved. Other times, we might be able to work directly with the other parties involved.

Third, we move fast. We know that time is working against homeowners in these situations, so we don't mess around with lengthy due diligence processes when someone's equity is disappearing by the day.

What You Should Do Right Now

If you're facing a lis pendens situation in High Point, don't panic, but don't wait either. Here's your action plan:

1. Get a copy of the actual lis pendens filing from the Guilford County Register of Deeds
2. Understand exactly what the dispute involves and who filed it
3. Consult with a real estate attorney about your options
4. Contact cash buyers who work with distressed properties to understand your selling options
5. Don't ignore court dates or legal deadlines — this will only make things worse

Remember, whether you end up selling to us or someone else, the important thing is that you understand your situation and take action to protect whatever equity you have left.

I've seen too many High Point homeowners lose everything because they thought a lis pendens meant they were out of options. That's just not true. Yes, it's complicated. Yes, it limits your choices. But it's not a death sentence for your property or your financial future.

If you're dealing with a lis pendens on your High Point property, give Uncle Charles a call. No pressure, no judgment — just straight answers about what you're facing and what options you have. Sometimes a 15-minute conversation can save you thousands of dollars and months of stress.

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