What Happens When You File Bankruptcy And Have A Mortgage?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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If you kept your house throughout the bankruptcy process,

you are free to keep your home after the bankruptcy

– as long as you continue to pay the mortgage. It may be that after you are free of all the rest of your debt you will be able to afford the mortgage payments easily. If so, you'll be able to keep your house.

What happens with my mortgage if I file bankruptcy?


A Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out your financial debt including your mortgage

, but you could lose your house. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy is more of a real organization and you can even catch up on payments as long as these are included in your plan. … If you do get to keep your home, make sure your payments stay current.

What happens if you file bankruptcy and you own a house?

If you kept your house throughout the bankruptcy process,

you are free to keep your home after the bankruptcy

– as long as you continue to pay the mortgage. It may be that after you are free of all the rest of your debt you will be able to afford the mortgage payments easily. If so, you'll be able to keep your house.

Can you file bankruptcy and keep your house and car?

In many cases you can file bankruptcy and keep your home and

keep your car if you claim bankruptcy

. For over half of the people we meet with a bankruptcy is NOT necessary; a consumer proposal is a better solution and even if you do file bankruptcy, we still offer alternatives.

Can the bank take your house if you file bankruptcy?

The good news is that

bankruptcy can protect your home

, holding off a foreclosure. Chapter 13 bankruptcy is designed to allow you to keep your home, even if you are behind on payments. If you keep your house after filing for Chapter 7, the fact other debts are discharged should make it easier to pay your mortgage.

What is the downside to filing bankruptcy?

Filing for bankruptcy

can negatively impact your immediate financial future

. … Obtaining credit after filing for bankruptcy could mean increased interest rates. Obtaining credit after filing for bankruptcy might require security deposits.

What should you not do before filing bankruptcy?

  • Lying about Your Assets. …
  • Not Consulting an Attorney. …
  • Giving Assets (Or Payments) To Family Members. …
  • Running Up Credit Card Debt. …
  • Taking on New Debt. …
  • Raiding The 401(k) …
  • Transferring Property to Family or Friends. …
  • Not Doing Your Research.

Will my house be paid off after bankruptcy?

Chapter 13 bankruptcy does not affect your home mortgage.

You continue to make your mortgage payments during and after the bankruptcy

. If you are behind in mortgage payments, you can pay off the arrears through your Chapter 13 repayment plan (which lasts three to five years).

Do I still own my home after Chapter 7?

Chapter 7 Won't Help You Keep a Home If You're Behind on the Mortgage. If you are in arrears or facing foreclosure, Chapter 7 doesn't provide a way for you to catch up. So, unless

you can negotiate something with your lender independently from the bankruptcy, you will most likely lose your home

.

How can I get my house out of bankruptcy?

If you've gone through a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, you need to

wait at least 4 years after a court discharges or dismisses your bankruptcy

to qualify for a conventional loan. Government-backed mortgage loans are a bit more lenient. You need to wait 3 years after your bankruptcy's dismissal or discharge to get a USDA loan.

Should I max out my credit card before filing bankruptcy?

The answer to this question is

“no

.” The bankruptcy law says that if you incur a debt with the intention of discharging it in bankruptcy, the debt is fraudulent and can't be discharged. However, normal credit card use before bankruptcy is not fraud. …

Can I keep my financed car if I file bankruptcy?

If you file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy and local bankruptcy laws allow you to exempt all of the equity you have in your car,

you can keep the vehicle

—as long as you're current on your loan payments. … They may also give you the option to pay off the equity at a discount in order to keep the car.

What assets are you allowed to keep in bankruptcy?

Exemptions allow you to keep a certain amount of assets safe in bankruptcy, such as

an inexpensive car, professional tools, clothing, and a retirement account

. If you can exempt an asset, you don't have to worry about the bankruptcy trustee appointed to your case taking it and selling it for your ' benefit.

What is the income cut off for Chapter 7?

If your annual income, as calculated on line 12b, is

less than $84,952

, you may qualify to file Chapter 7 bankruptcy. If it's greater than $84,952, you'll have to continue to Form 122A-2, which we'll review in the next section.

How much does it cost to file bankruptcy?

Filing fee — The cost to file for Chapter 7 is

$335, and $310 for Chapter 13

. Credit counseling fee — If you want to file for bankruptcy, you're required to receive credit counseling first. Many agencies charge a nominal fee for this service, which can cost around $50, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

How long does bankruptcy stay on your credit report?

When you file for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy—two of the most common individual bankruptcies—it can remain on your credit reports for

up to ten years

. After a bankruptcy is listed on your reports, it causes serious damage to your credit score until it's removed.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.