If you own a home with more than one mortgage, you may be able to completely remove or “avoid” the second and subsequent junior mortgages from your home and county records, thus leaving only the first original mortgage! To qualify for this defense, the court will generally require objective evidence that the home is appraised for less than the value of the initial mortgage, which can be obtained through a county property appraisal or through a third party certified appraisal that is accepted by the court. In an environment where home prices in most markets have fallen at least 30%, many borrowers may qualify. As mentioned previously, current bankruptcy law allows judges to approve the loan modifications of the terms of certain debts, namely auto and student loans and second-home mortgages. In the case of second mortgages, if the value of the property falls below the loan amount, debtors potentially could reduce the balance of the loan to equal the current value of the property. If the courts remove this 2nd mortgage, this is known as “stripping” the lien, “cram down” or “strip down,” which can also occur if the loan is secured by other collateral that is part of the filing or if the home is not your principal residence, or even if the payment structure on the 2nd mortgage falls heavily during the bankruptcy filing itself. If the courts remove this 2nd mortgage, this is known as “stripping” the lien, “cram down” or “strip down,” which can also occur if the loan is secured by other collateral that is part of the filing or if the home is not your principal residence, or even if the payment structure on the 2nd mortgage falls heavily during the bankruptcy filing itself. Lien Stripping Example:
Now, THAT IS POWERFUL tool for homeowners who are underwater! Additional liens on your home beyond your initial mortgage, whether you have taken a second mortgage or just another related lien, could be negated in the case of a Chapter 13 personal bankruptcy filing. Liens can be stripped off of the debtor’s assets in Chapter 11 or Chapter 13 when there is not enough equity in the asset, after deducting senior liens from the property’s current market value, to secure the unsecured in whole or in part, where the lien exceeds the value of the debtor’s property. Section 506 of the Bankruptcy Code acknowledges that a lien is only a secured claim to the extent there is value in the asset to which it attaches. To the extent that the claim exceeds the value of the collateral, that portion of the claim is unsecured. In Chapter 11 or Chapter 13, even voluntary liens, such as mortgages and security interests, can be stripped down to the value of the collateral, with the exception of voluntary liens secured only by the debtor’s residence. Congress is currently considering changes to bankruptcy law allowing the modification of home mortgages. Despite the general rule, two exceptions may apply so as to allow lien stripping of a mortgage on a personal residence:
In addition, remember that the general rule applies only to a lien secured solely by a personal residence. Thus, lien stripping will be allowed for a mortgage on a building used in a business. While there is no assurance of how the courts will decide, depending on the terms of the original loans as well as the details of your filing, there are options for home owners with multiple liens on their home. This is because most additionally mortgages are unsecured for the loan, especially in the context of depressed home values. While inflated home appraisals may have allowed you to take out an additional mortgage, it’s possible that your original home loan is now under water, in addition to the implications of your additional, second mortgage. When the real estate market was much more active, lenders often side stepped the 20% down payment by allowing the borrower to get primary mortgage insurance. As a further step to bypass this, many borrowers took out a 2nd mortgage to cover the 20% payment, which led to the addition lien on the home – given market conditions, many buyers ended up with negative net financing, or negative equity, before they even made their first payment (and often did not have to provide any collateral). Within Chapter 13 Bankruptcy law, section 11 USC 1322 can potentially allow you to forgo your second mortgage, under certain circumstances. If your second lien on the whole is unsecured, then when the value of your home drops belong the first mortgage deed of trust, the second becomes wholly under secure, which can be negated through a Chapter 13 filing. The lien stripping program is available for individuals desiring to reorganize their debt using Federal Laws under Title 11 of the United States Code. The mortgage removal program can only be used in the context of a reorganization, often referred to as Chapter 13(see below). Attorney Marc Aaron Goldbach sais this about this bankruptcy defense for homeowners; “Homeowners can file a Chapter 13 bankruptcy and can pay the various filing charges/fees (to strip a lien we must file a complaint against the second or junior lien holder(s)). In my opinion, the most critical aspect of this process is to carefully qualify each potential client to determine whether bankruptcy is their best alternative and make them aware of its lasting credit impacts.“ “While removing junior debt from their properties will help them financially, clients must also be capable of staying within their financial plan to fulfill their obligations of their Chapter 13 filing.” Tax liens can also be stripped off in reorganization proceedings (Chapters 11 and 13) to the extent that the lien does not attach to equity in property. Tax liens can’t be avoided in Chapter 7 on the grounds that they impair exemptions; if the tax is dischargeable in the Chapter 7, the bankruptcy court can determine the amount of the lien that is secured at the time of the filing. Payment of that sum entitles the debtor to the release of the lien. Ultimately, working with a qualified tax and real estate attorney or experienced real estate bankruptcy lawyer will help you present your case to the Federal bankruptcy court, so it’s important to get qualified legal advice in advance of any filings.
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