Options for homeowners who owe more than their home’s value

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This real estate Q + A was from a very different market: Options for homeowners who owe more than their home’s value

Dear Phyllis,

We purchased our home in 2005. At the time, we made a 10% down payment. My husband’s hours at work have been cut, and two months ago, I lost my part-time job. We owe the bank about $100,000 more than what we could sell for. Because of our reduced income, we really can’t afford the payments. We want to get rid of this house. What are the options for homeowners who owe more than their home’s value?

Want Out

Dear Want,

1) You should first contact your lender to discuss a loan modification. A loan modification is a change in the original terms of the loan, perhaps a lower interest rate or an extension of the loan term. A change that will result in lower monthly payments. If you have previously unsuccessfully tried a loan modification, servicers are now more motivated, so try again. And keep trying.

2) Meet with a Realtor; is renting your home an option? If not, discuss a possible short sale. A short sale happens when your lender agrees to sell your home for less than the mortgage balance. In this case, the lender absorbs the difference as a loss. This process also helps you avoid a foreclosure on your credit report.

3) Contact your lender and find out if they will accept a deed instead of foreclosure. This is a document in which the borrower conveys all interest in a real property to the lender in order to avoid foreclosure. The lender avoids the lengthy foreclosure process, and you should not have a foreclosure reported against your credit.

4) You could allow your home to undergo foreclosure; the process takes four or more months. After the lender takes the home back in foreclosure, you will be contacted and asked to move. If you don’t move, the lender will start eviction proceedings.

I am sorry that these are your options, and I wish you luck. Before you decide on any course of action, you should also seek advice from your tax professional and/or an attorney.

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