What is Foreclosure in Portage, Michigan?

Find the right Foreclosure Bankruptcy attorney in Portage, MI

  • /10
  • Client Overall
    Satisfaction Rate*
*TrustPilot score as of 010118

Find Lawyers

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 Portage, Michigan has repeatedly failed to make their payments. When a house is foreclosed, it is usually sold at auction shortly thereafter. This is because banks usually want to get rid of the property as soon as possible, even if it means losing some money, and an auction is an easy way to do this.

In every state, including Michigan, there is an option to go through foreclosure by a judicial sale, which is a procedure in which a court supervises the sale of the property, and makes sure that the proceeds first go the to the holder of the mortgage, then to anyone else who may have a lien on the property, and finally to the debtor if anything is left. 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 Portage, Michigan 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 Michigan?

First and foremost, you should not ignore the possibility of foreclosure. Failing to respond to collection calls from your lender will not make the problem go away. As unpleasant as this might seem, you should stay in contact with your creditor, and be honest with them. It is important to remember that the bank does not really want your Portage house - they expected to make a profit through the interest on your loan, and that's what they'd prefer to do. Accordingly, they will probably make reasonable accommodations to your financial situation if it means that you will be able to make some form of payment to them.

If you can't work anything out with your lender, or have become completely unable to make any mortgage payments, a "short sale" might be a good option. This allows you to sell your house for whatever price it can get, and hand the proceeds over to the lender. If the sale price is less than the balance of the loan, the rest of the debt might be forgiven. You might also consider a "short refinance" which allows a portion of the debt to be forgiven, while refinancing the rest, hopefully under better terms.

How Can A Portage, Michigan Attorney Help?

If you are facing foreclosure, a good Portage, Michigan 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.

Talk to a Bankruptcy & Finances Law Attorney now!

Life in Portage

Portage is a Kalamazoo County city that incorporated as an official Michigan State city in 1963. There are roughly 45,000 Michigan State residents living in Portage which is known nationally for its fantastic network of well kept historical parks, trails, and other recreational areas. The bikeway system, constructed in 1989, totals over 50 miles long accessing nearly every portion of Portage. That's over five times the length of the city's expressways! The Kalamazoo Air Zoo, an aviation museum, is a popular attraction for visitors. Great restaurants like the Craftsman Chop Company, Fieldstone Grill, and Bravo Restaurant Café attract tourist and local clientele with their outstanding dishes. There are also plenty of chain restaurants within city limits. Shopping is also a Portage attraction. The Crossroads Mall is the largest retail center in all of Southwest Michigan providing shoppers with a wide range of choices. Some visitors opt to stay in the accommodations near the mall but there are also a number of other locally owned hotels available.

Portage serves as a somewhat major distribution center as a result of affordable warehousing and convenient location along major state highways. So much business is sure to attract plenty of professionals like lawyers. Portage lawyers can help you sort out whatever legal issue you may encounter and they also have experience with local Portage, Kalamazoo County, and Michigan State court procedures. Portage is a destination for so many different things like business and pleasure making it quite the rising star attraction in the State of Michigan.