The timeline for foreclosure is right there in the article. The county can foreclose after 2 years and 1 month after the debt goes to collection. There even was

The timeline for foreclosure is right there in the article. The county can foreclose after 2 years and 1 month after the debt goes to collection. There even was a hearing to show cause, after which the owner still had two months to pay up, but they didn't do it. The fellow made a deliberate choice to hand the property back to the county, and he was probably glad to do so and get out of the rental business.