I'm often asked if bankruptcy can reduce mortgage payments. The short answer is "No" plus "Maybe". We'll take a look at both parts of that answer.
Let's start with the fact that we're talking about a Chapter 13 bankruptcy, a payment-plan bankruptcy. There are some places in the United States where this discussion might be appropriate for a Chapter 7 bankruptcy (no payments, just get rid of your debts), but California isn't one of those places.
• The "No" part – The bankruptcy code prohibits modifying the terms of a mortgage on your home (principal residence). It doesn't matter that your home may be worth less than you owe on it.
• The "Maybe" part – If you have more than one mortgage on your home, any of them that are not protected by equity in the home can have the lien (secured interest) "stripped" from those mortgages. Those lien-stripped mortgages become unsecured debts (like credit card debts) to be paid the same percentage as other unsecured debts in the Chapter 13 payment plan.
What does that mean? Let's take an example.
• Your home is worth $300,000, less than it used to be worth. You owe $400,000 on a 1st mortgage, $100,000 on a 2nd mortgage, and $50,000 on a 3rd mortgage. You have to make payments on all three mortgages and wonder if there is anything that bankruptcy could do to help.
• Notice that if your home were sold and you received $300,000 for it, all of that amount would go to pay (partially) the 1st mortgage. There would be no money left to pay anything on the 2nd and 3rd mortgages. Those two mortgages are not protected by any equity in your home (the equity is all used up by the 1st mortgage).
– Therefore you could "strip" the liens from the 2nd and 3rd mortgages and no longer have to make the payments on them. Of course that reduces your monthly mortgage payments.
This is definitely one of those "don't try this at home" things, and a Chapter 13 bankruptcy is anything but simple. So be sure to consult with a qualified bankruptcy attorney in your area if you think "lien stripping" might be able to help you.
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A lien strip of second and third mortgages is an often overlooked benefit of bankruptcy. It also might be the best way for a debtor to save their house.
Definitely right, Christopher. It's one of the things I look for in every situation where a client owns a home with more than one mortgage on it. And, as you said, I think it gets overlooked too often.