How does a foreclosure process typically begin?

The foreclosure process typically begins when the borrower defaults on their loan. This default occurs when the homeowner fails to make the required mortgage payments as stipulated in the loan agreement. Once this failure to pay occurs, the lender may initiate foreclosure proceedings to recover the outstanding debt. This step is essential as it triggers the legal process allowing the lender to reclaim the property because the borrower has not fulfilled their obligations under the mortgage contract.

This means that the other options are not the starting points of the foreclosure process. Selling the property by the homeowner happens voluntarily and is not related to the default or foreclosure. While a lender may resort to filing a lawsuit against the borrower, this is typically a later step within the foreclosure process if the borrower disputes the lender's claim. Similarly, government agencies seizing property generally refers to tax liens or similar scenarios, not foreclosure, which is primarily a private matter between the lender and borrower regarding the mortgage.