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Question:
AUG 08, 2011

Can't Pay Mortgage

What happens if you can't pay your mortgage?

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Bill's Answer: Bills.com Resident Expert

If the mortgagor (the borrower) defaults (fails to make the monthly mortgage payments), the mortgagee (the lender) may reach the land to satisfy the debt. In some states this is accomplished with a a judicial foreclosure. This is a lawsuit in which the mortgagor is evicted and the property is sold under the supervision of a government official, such as a sheriff. A judicial foreclosure can start 120 to 180 days following a default.

In some states a foreclosure is accomplished privately. If the mortgage is actually a deed of trust, a deed of trust allows the trustee to sell the property in a private sale when the borrower defaults. The private sale must occur in a commercially reasonable manner so as to bring the highest price possible. A private sale may occur as soon as 60 days following a default.

Can't Pay Mortgage

Your mother will be evicted if she continues to fail to pay the mortgage, the house will be auctioned or added as a real-estate-owned (REO) property in the multiple listing service. When the house is sold, the proceeds will be applied to the balance of the loan. Any surplus will be given to your mother. If the sale proceeds are less than the balance of the loan, then she will be liable for the deficiency balance. If your mother's home is worth more than the balance of the mortgage, then she should sell the property herself immediately.

Your mother has options to avoid foreclosure. Read the Bills.com resource Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program to learn about the options she has to resolve the mortgage with the mortgagee.

I hope this information helps you Find. Learn & Save.

Best,

Bill

Bills.com

Comments (4)


Chasity M.
Swatara Township, PA  |  August 08, 2011
Our house is only in my husbands name as he purchased it before we were married. We owe $108,000 on the house and it would probably be appraised for just under $100,000. We have a 2nd mortgage as well, and that is $16,000. We are 1 month behind on our regular mortgage and current on our 2nd. There are multiple houses in our neighborhood that have been on the market for 6+ months and have received no offers. We want out of this house as we can no longer afford it as my husbands income has taken a hit. We can no longer afford to live in this house and want out as soon as possible. What first steps should we take?
Bills.com
August 08, 2011
The first steps you should take are to speak to your mortgage holders. See if you can either work out a loan modification or if you can do an FHA Short Refinance.

If you can't work out anything, either contact a lawyer or an organization like NACA that helps people in situations like this.
VA B.
Manassas, VA  |  January 12, 2011
Hi, I am from VA, need some help with your opinion. I have 2 loans, 80 and 20 on my home. My home is way under water. Hence got the 1st mortgage modified and I am current with them. I stopped paying 2nd since I thought it is foolish to pay for a home which has lost 30% value. I got few calls from 2nd, I answered all of them and I told them I wanted some relief and settlement, even left messages to their loss mitigation, they didnot returned the call. I told them my house is under water. They stopped calling me. I have not paid the 2nd for the last 4 months. Recently I checked my Credit report, I noted the account is closed, but it says ""Credit grantor reclaim collateral to settle defaulted Mortgage", but the balance is still due?..I am not sure what this means since I have not received any notice of foreclosure from 1 st or 2nd and I am still staying in the house. Please need your advice.
Bills.com
January 12, 2011
I can understand why you are confused. The notation 'credit grantor reclaim collateral to settle defaulted Mortgage' is used to indicate foreclosure, in my experience. Yet, it does not seem that anyone foreclosed on you, from what you wrote. A second mortgage holder can't foreclose on you, unless it first pays off your first mortgage loan. I recommend calling your first mortgage holder to make certain that everything is fine between you and the first mortgage holder and that your modification is definitely in place. Because Virginia is a recourse state, the second mortgage holder may be able to come after you for any balance that yo owe them. You may want to call them and try to work out some kind of payoff. Many lenders in this position will do a settlement. Or, you could file for Bankruptcy to get rid of it, if you qualify for a bankruptcy. Lastly, if the second mortgage holder forgives any of your debt, it could create a tax liability.

I will provide you with resources that should help educate you on foreclosure, taxes, and debt forgiveness.

 • The IRS Web site contains the FAQ Home Foreclosure and Debt Cancellation. This document contains examples and instructions for completing your tax forms if you experienced a foreclosure.

 • See the IRS document explaining The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation, which allows taxpayers to exclude income from the discharge of debt on their principal residence.

 • See the IRS Form Form 982 Reduction of Tax Attributes Due to Discharge of Indebtedness.

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