Foreclosure

Disadvantages of a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of a deed in lieu is that the Lender takes subject to all other encumbrances and interests in the Property. Therefore if there is a second mortgage, for example, a deed in lieu would likely not be a viable strategy.

A deed in lieu can eliminate your deficiency if you owe more on your home than the home is worth. In exchange for giving the lender your deed voluntarily and keeping the home in good condition, your lender may agree to forgive your deficiency or greatly reduce it.

If your lender agrees to a short sale or to accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure, you might owe federal income tax on any forgiven deficiency. The IRS learns of the deficiency when the lender sends it a Form 1099-C, which reports the forgiven debt as income to you.

C. The purchaser must pay off both the mortgage and junior lienholders after the sale. What is a major disadvantage to lenders of accepting a deed in lieu of foreclosure?The lender gains rights to private mortgage insurance.

The deed in lieu of foreclosure offers several advantages to both the borrower and the lender. The principal advantage to the borrower is that it immediately releases him/her from most or all of the personal indebtedness associated with the defaulted loan.

The impact that a deed in lieu has on your score depends primarily on your credit history.According to FICO, if you start with a score of around 780, a deed in lieu (without a deficiency balance) shaves 105 to 125 points off your score; but if you start with a score of 680, you'll lose 50 to 70 points.

A deed in lieu of foreclosure is different from a short sale because it transfers the property to the lender instead of selling it to a new buyer.Most lenders find this option less appealing than a short sale because they will need to handle the logistics of the sale instead of the homeowner.