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Sellers: Avoid Foreclosure

 

     When you miss your mortgage payments, foreclosure may occur. This is the legal means that your mortgage company can use to repossess (take over) your home. When this happens, you must move out of your house. If your property is worth less than the total amount you owe on your mortgage loan, your mortgage company or HUD could seek a deficiency judgment. If that happens, you not only lose your home, you also would owe your mortgage company or HUD an additional debt. Foreclosure or a deficiency judgment could seriously affect your ability to qualify for credit in the future. So you should avoid it if all possible!

DO NOT IGNORE THE LETTERS FROM YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY!
If you are having problems making your payments, contact your mortgage company immediately. Explain your situation. Be prepared to provide them with financial information, such as your monthly income and expenses. Without this information, they may not be able to help. Stay in your home for now. You may not qualify for assistance if you abandon your property.

Some of your options include the following:

  • Special Forbearance
    Your mortgage company may be able to arrange a repayment plan based on your financial situation. Your mortgage company may even provide for a temporary reduction or suspension of your payments. You may qualify for this if you have recently lost your job or your source of income or if you had an unexpected increase in living expenses. You must furnish information to your mortgage company to show that you would be able to meet the requirements of the new payment plan.
     
  • Mortgage Modification
    You may be able to refinance the debt and/or extend the term of your mortgage loan. This may help you catch up by reducing the monthly payments to a more affordable level. You may qualify if you have recovered from a financial problem but your net income is less than it was before the default (failure to pay).
     
  • Partial Claim
    Your mortgage company may be able to work with you to obtain an interest free loan from HUD to bring your mortgage current. You may qualify if:
    • Your loan is at least 4 months delinquent but no more than 12 months delinquent;
    • Your mortgage is not in foreclosure and
    • You are able to begin making full mortgage payments
    When your mortgage company files a Partial Claim, HUD will pay your mortgage company the amount necessary to bring your mortgage current. You must execute a Promissory Note, and a Lien will be placed on your property until the Promissory Note is paid in full. The Promissory Note is interest free and will be due if you sell or leave your property, or when your mortgage matures.
  • Pre-Foreclosure Sale
    This will allow you to sell your property and pay off your mortgage loan to avoid foreclosure and damage to your credit rating. You may qualify if:
    • The "as is" appraised value is at least 70% of the amount you owe and the sales price is 95% of the appraised value
    • The loan is at least 2 months delinquent prior to the pre-foreclosure sale closing date and
    • You are able to sell your house within 3 to 5 months (depending on what your mortgage company agrees to).
    An additional benefit to this option is the assistance you will receive with the Seller Paid closing costs.
     
  • Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure
    As a last resort, you may be able to voluntarily "give back" your property to the mortgage company. This won't save your house, but it will help your chances of getting another mortgage loan in the future. You can qualify if:
    • You are in default and don't qualify for any of the other options
    • Your attempts at selling the house before foreclosure were unsuccessful and
    • You don't have another mortgage in default.

 

Disclaimer:
 This information deals with Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy. Each state has its own bankruptcy laws, so you need to check with your state for details. Information dealing with Chapter 13 bankruptcy and consumer debt restructuring is not discussed in the above FAQs. The information contained in the following FAQs is provided for general information purposes only and is not intended to be a legal opinion nor legal advice nor is it intended to be a complete discussion of all the issues related to the area of Chapter 7 consumer bankruptcy. Every individual's factual situation is different and you should seek independent legal advice regarding specific information.

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