Walk away refers to situations where a homeowner may be able to leave a property under certain legal conditions without continuing responsibility for the mortgage, depending on applicable rules.

In California, the homestead exemption is currently $75,000 for most homeowners and can go up to $175,000 for individuals over 65 or those who are disabled.

A homestead exemption does not stop or prevent foreclosure on a property. Instead, it protects a set amount of home equity from unsecured creditors by shielding it from certain types of liens. This means it helps safeguard equity in the home, but it does not interfere with the foreclosure process itself.