What are your options when condos or townhomes are worth less than the loan?
If you owe more than what your California condo or townhome is worth because the condo depreciated or because the equity in the townhome has been taken out then the lenders typically do not try and show too much mercy. They want their money. However, they are willing to negotiate the payments or work with you because foreclosures are expensive for them. They have to pay lawyer fees, court fees and California real estate sale fees if you foreclose so if they can avoid this they will. Lenders view the situation like this, when California condos and townhomes appreciated they did not share in the rewards so they feel like they should not be punished if California condo values depreciate. Either way the lenders feel they are owed whatever the loan amount states. If you call the lender they will work with you to help you make payments, but they will not allow payments to disappear unless you are facing bankruptcy or wish to deed back the property in lieu of filing for a foreclosure, but even then it is up to the lender and they only do this if you can show financial distress, unemployment, an illness in the family or something dramatic.
Here are some more options: One option is to give the lender the option of making a short sale on the California condo or townhome. This means that the lender may sell the condominium or townhouse for less than your loan and waive the difference between what they sell the California condo or townhome for and what you owe. However, keep in mind that the IRS views this difference as taxable income, because in the IRS's point of view the mortgage company writes down the difference as a loss but the IRS does not want to lose their taxes so they charge the person who had the debt waived as a tax on them. For example if your California condo or townhome loan when you bought the house was $500,000 and is now at $450,000 and the market value for the CA houses your size is $400,000 and the bank sells the property for $400,000, the IRS views the extra $50,000 as taxable profit for the person who did not pay back the loan. Consult a tax advisor for specifics. HUD, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development also has some options available to try and help you avoid foreclosure. You can see what they say at US Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD: How to Avoid Foreclosure and if that link does not work in the future, try US Department of Housing and Urban Development, HUD. There are different requirements to qualify for help. All of the options are very time sensitive so it is best to look into your options right away if you are facing financial difficulty.
Please Describe Your Request Below:
 | © John-Robin Middlebrook. Last updated April 2008.
|

|