There are certain scenarios when your home mortgage is current and you’re dealing with other home-related debts that Chapter 7 works well. You’re current on your home mortgage payment, although you’ve been struggling mightily to keep it that way. You’re thinking very seriously about getting some financial help through bankruptcy. But you absolutely want to keep the home that … Read More
Your Home Mortgage Affecting Your Choice between Chapter 7 and 13
Bankruptcy helps—often tremendously—with your home mortgage and other home-related debts. Here’s a list how Chapter 7 & 13 each do so. If you’re buying a home, your mortgage and other home-related debts are probably your most important ones. That’s especially true if you want to keep the home. So the choice between filing a Chapter 7 “straight bankruptcy” and … Read More
A List of Ways Chapter 7 Buys Time for Your Vehicle or Home
If you get behind on payments on your vehicle or home, in many different situations Chapter 7 buys you the time you need. In the last several weeks of blog posts we’ve given many examples of how bankruptcy can buy you time for your vehicle and for your home. Here’s a summary how a Chapter 7 “straight bankruptcy” filed … Read More
Getting Current on Your Mortgage, on Your Own Terms
If you’ve fallen behind on your mortgage, it’s very hard to catch up. It may even seem impossible. Chapter 13 makes it possible.
Illustrating the Option of Home Surrender Much Later under Chapter 13
Here’s an example of how Chapter 13 can allow you to hold onto your home but then change your mind about it later.
Give up Your Home Much Later under Chapter 13
As you decide whether to use the powerful tools of Chapter 13 to hold onto your home, it helps to know that you can later change your mind.
Use Chapter 13 to Protect More Home Equity
If your home is exposed to your creditors and to the Chapter 7 trustee because it has too much equity, Chapter 13 can protect that equity.
Protect Your Home Equity That’s Not Protected by the Homestead Exemption
If your home is at risk because you have more equity than the amount of the homestead exemption, Chapter 7 might still save your home.
Resolving “Statutory Liens” on Your Home
Chapter 7 doesn’t wipe away “statutory liens.” But Chapter 13 gives you a safe and flexible way to deal with them.
Catch Up on Home Property Taxes through Chapter 13
If you are behind on property taxes on your home, Chapter 7 often doesn’t give you enough time to catch up. But Chapter 13 likely would.
Get Flexible Timing for Selling Your Home
If you are behind on your mortgage and want to sell, you may be able to delay the home sale for years and pay the arrearage out of the sale.
Getting Current on Your Home Mortgage through Chapter 13
You have much, much more time to catch up on unpaid mortgage payments, as well as any unpaid property taxes.
The Best Way to Deal with an Income Tax Lien Partly Encumbering Your Home Equity
Chapter 13 handles a tax lien on a home especially well when the home has enough equity to cover some but not all of the tax lien amount.
A Fresh Start through a Forbearance Agreement
Whether you’re about to fall behind on your mortgage or have already done so, a forbearance agreement avoids foreclosure while you catch up.
A Fresh Start through Mortgage Modification
Mortgage modification may reduce your monthly payments but not likely reduce your balance owed. So it costs less short-term, not long-term.