The Daily Insight

Bringing clear, reliable news and in-depth information to keep you informed with context and clarity.

science

Do I still owe money if my house is foreclosed?

Writer Elijah King

Many homeowners who go through foreclosure are surprised to learn that they still owe money on their house, even though they no longer own it! Most mortgage lenders require borrowers to personally guarantee the amount of the note, leaving the lender with two avenues of collection in the foreclosure scenario.

Does Bank keep equity in foreclosure?

In Foreclosure, Equity Remains Yours But in every case, if you have not made a determined number of payments, the lender places your loan in default and can begin foreclosure. If you cannot get new financing or sell the home, the lender can sell the home at auction for whatever price they choose.

Is the foreclosure of a mortgage considered debt collection?

Mortgage Foreclosure is “Debt Collection” Under the FDCPA. The foreclosure of a mortgage is “debt collection” under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (“FDCPA”) according to the Sixth Circuit Federal Court of Appeals in Glazer v Chase Home Finance, LLC.

What does a foreclosure mean in real estate?

What does foreclosure mean, exactly? In simple terms, the foreclosure process allows a lender to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan by selling or taking ownership of the property.

How much debt can be forgiven from a foreclosure?

Up to $2 million of forgiven debt is eligible for this exclusion ($1 million if married filing separately). The exclusion doesn’t apply if the discharge is due to services performed for the lender or any other reason not directly related to a decline in the home’s value or the taxpayer’s financial condition.

How is debt cancellation related to home foreclosure?

Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation. Here’s a very simplified example. You borrow $10,000 and default on the loan after paying back $2,000. If the lender is unable to collect the remaining debt from you, there is a cancellation of debt of $8,000, which generally is taxable income to you.