If you are facing the possibility of foreclosure, you probably have many concerns. You are likely to be worried about the details of the foreclosure process in addition to more personal considerations such as where you are going to live and how you will repair your credit in the years to come. It is not unusual for homeowners in foreclosure to believe that they will be lucky to get through the proceedings without owing anything additional on their home. Depending on the circumstances of your situation, however, your lender might actually owe you money when everything is all said and done.
Balancing the Numbers
As a homeowner, you probably know that foreclosure is the process that a lender will use to reclaim your home if you fail to make your agreed-upon payments. During foreclosure, you will be given notice to vacate the property, and the home will be sold at a sheriff’s auction. The proceeds of the sale are then used by the lender to satisfy the remaining balance of the mortgage loan. What happens next will depend on the situation.
If you currently owe more on your mortgage than what your home is worth, the proceeds of the sheriff’s sale are unlikely to be enough to cover the full remaining balance. The amount remaining after the proceeds of the sale are applied is called a deficiency. Unless you have negotiated with the lender in advance, you will almost certainly be responsible for paying off the deficiency amount.
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