Experts agree there's no chance of a large-scale foreclosure crisis like we saw back in 2008, and that's good news for the housing market. As Mark Fleming, Chief Economist at First American, says:
. . . don't expect a housing bust like the mid-2000s, as lending standards in this housing cycle have been much tighter and homeowners have historically high levels of home equity, so there likely wont be a surge in foreclosures.
Data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) helps tell this story. It shows the overall percentage of homeowners at risk is decreasing significantly with time (see graph below):
But even though the volume of homeowners at risk is very low, there is still a small percentage of homeowners who may be coming face to face with foreclosure as a possibility today. If you're facing difficulties yourself, it can help to understand your options. It starts with knowing what foreclosure is. Investopedia defines it like this:
Typically, default is triggered when a borrower misses a specific number of monthly payments . . . Foreclosure is the legal process by which a lender attempts to recover the amount owed on a defaulted loan by taking ownership of and selling the mortgaged property.
The good news is there are alternatives available to help you avoid going through the foreclosure process, including:
But before you go down any of those paths, its worth seeing if you have enough equity in your home to sell it and protect your investment.
Equity is the difference between what you owe on the home and its market value based on factors like price appreciation.
In todays real estate market, many homeowners have far more equity in their homes than they realize due to the home price appreciation we've seen over the past few years. According to CoreLogic:
The total average equity per borrower has now reached almost $300,000, the highest in the data series.
So, what does that mean for you? If you've lived in your house for at least a few years or more, chances are your homes value, and your equity, has risen dramatically. In addition, the mortgage payments you've made during that time chipped away at the balance of your loan. If your homes current value is higher than what you still owe on your loan, you may be able to use that increase to your advantage.
Rick Sharga, Executive VP of Market Intelligence at ATTOM Data, explains how equity can help:
Very few of the properties entering the foreclosure process have reverted to the lender at the end of the foreclosure. . . We believe that this may be an indication that borrowers are leveraging their equity and selling their homes rather than risking the loss of their equity in a foreclosure auction.
To find out how much equity you have, work with a local real estate professional. They can give you an estimate of what your house could sell for based on recent sales of similar homes in your area. You may be able to sell your house to avoid foreclosure.
If you find out you have to pursue other options, your agent can help with that too. They'll be able to connect you with other professionals in the industry, like housing counselors, who can look into your unique situation and offer advice on next steps if selling isn't your best alternative.
If you're a homeowner facing hardship, lets connect so you have an expert on your side to explore your options and see if you can sell your house to avoid foreclosure.
Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters
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