Foreclosure is the process through which the lender in a mortgage takes ownership and/or possession of the property that secured the original loan. This happens when a debtor in Morgan City, Louisiana has repeatedly failed to make their payments. Foreclosure often requires the house to be sold at auction. Often, banks want to get rid of the property as soon as they can, in order to make as much money as possible, and move on.

In every state, including Louisiana, borrowers have the option to go through foreclosure by judicial sale. This means that the auction will be overseen by a court, to make sure that the bank makes an effort to get as high a price as possible (to increase the chances that the entire balance will be covered, as well as the odds that there will be some money leftover for the borrower). In some states, original mortgages are "non-recourse loans," meaning that the lender can only recover ownership of the house in the event of default. If the house is now worth less than the balance of the mortgage, the lender has to take the loss. You should speak with a Morgan City, Louisiana Lawyer to see if this state is one of them. However, it is almost always the case that this protection does not apply to loans which have been refinanced.

How Can I Avoid Foreclosure in Louisiana?

First, and most importantly, you should not ignore the issue. Failing to respond to foreclosure calls from your lender will not make a problem go away. You should stay in touch, and be forthright with, your creditor as much as possible. One should remember that banks usually don't want to take your house in Morgan City. They issued your mortgage expecting to earn a profit on the interest. Taking possession of, and selling, your house is a last resort for them. Therefore, if you are forthright with them about your financial situation, they are likely to make reasonable accommodations to prevent you from defaulting.

If no deal can be worked out, or the mortgage payments have become prohibitive, you might consider a "short sale". While the lender has to consent to it, many will take a moderate loss if it means avoiding foreclosure (which lenders usually treat as a last resort). This allows you to sell the house for whatever price it can fetch on the current market, and hand the proceeds over to the bank. If the sale nets less than the balance, some or all of the deficiency might be forgiven. There is also the option of a "short refinance," which forgives a substantial portion of your mortgage debt, and refinances the rest.

How Can A Morgan City, Louisiana Attorney Help?

If you are facing foreclosure, a good Morgan City, Louisiana real estate Attorney can help. While keeping your home might not always be possible, a Lawyer can increase your odds of success, and help you minimize the negative impact if you do end up losing your home.