Foreclosure is a legal process allowing mortgage lenders to take ownership and/or possession of the debtor's real estate (which was used to secure the loan) in the event of nonpayment in Mills River, North Carolina. Foreclosure normally requires the house to be sold at an auction. Normally, banks want to rid themselves of the property as soon as they can, in order to collect as much money as possible.

In every state, including North Carolina, 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 Mills River, North Carolina 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 North Carolina?

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 straightforward with them. It is important to remember that the bank does not really want your Mills River 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 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 typically 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. You might also try a "short refinance" which allows a piece of the debt to be forgiven, and the rest refinanced. This allows the bank to wash its hands of the matter, while taking a relatively small loss, and allows the homeowner to keep their home.

How Can A Mills River, North Carolina Attorney Help?

If you are facing the possibility of foreclosure, a good Mills River, North Carolina real estate Attorney can help. At the very least, they will be able to inform you of your legal options.