Can you keep your mortgage when you sell your house?

Asked by: Marcel Feeney  |  Last update: September 24, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (18 votes)

In general, you must pay off any mortgage or loans secured on a home when you sell the property. You can list the property for sale and go through most of the process while still owing a balance, but you must pay the loan off in full as part of the closing.

Can you sell a house but keep a mortgage?

Its possible to keep the same mortgage. Its called porting. That doesn't happen often. Usually, the mortgage is discharged using the sale proceeds and you receive the remainder of the cash, then get a new mortgage. You can use all or some of your proceeds as the new downpayment.

What happens to remaining mortgage when you sell?

But to answer your question, when you sell the home the full balance of your loan comes due. You pay the loan off with the proceeds from the sale. A title company sorts it all out and makes sure the money goes to the right accounts at closing.

Can I keep my existing mortgage to a new property?

No, in the US you cannot transfer a mortgage from one property to another. You have to get a new mortgage.

Do I need to tell my mortgage company if I sell my house?

In summary, it is essential to notify your mortgage company when selling your home to ensure a seamless transaction and proper settlement of your loan. Your real estate agent and closing attorney can also help coordinate communication with your lender to facilitate a smooth home-selling experience.

The Truth When Your Loan is Sold To Another Lender

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What happens if you sell your house before paying off your mortgage?

When you close on the sale, you'll use the proceeds to pay off your mortgage lender and any outstanding fees or closing costs. A representative of the lender will be at the closing to collect the money due to them. Whatever is left after that is your profit — that's the money you get to keep, aka the net proceeds.

Can you transfer a mortgage to another person?

A transfer of mortgage lets a buyer take over the current homeowner's mortgage, assuming the same terms and conditions as they take over responsibility for payments. If your mortgage allows it, this strategy can help you avoid foreclosure, but it can have advantages for the new mortgage owner as well.

Can my son take over my mortgage?

You'll typically only be able to transfer your mortgage if your mortgage is assumable, and most conventional loans aren't. Some exceptions, such as the death of a borrower, may allow for the assumption of a conventional loan.

What are the downsides of porting a mortgage?

Cons
  • You have a limited timeframe. Most lenders offer a limited timeframe, usually 30 – 120 days, to successfully port your mortgage. ...
  • Your lender may not offer the lowest rates. ...
  • You may face fees. ...
  • You could still pay some prepayment penalties.

Can a mortgage be transferred to another person after death?

Your mortgage doesn't just disappear when you pass away. If you've bequeathed your home to a beneficiary, they'll inherit the balance on your home loan as well as the property itself. If the lender doesn't receive prompt payment, it can impact your credit score or even lead to foreclosure.

Can I sell my house and keep the money?

After you pay off any mortgages or liens on the house and pay the government for any capital gains or other taxes and pay off your realtors and lawyers (if any), you can do what you like with the remaining funds.

Can I mortgage my house that is paid off?

If you want to take out a mortgage on a paid-off home, you can do so with a cash-out refinance. This option allows you to refinance the same way you would if you had a mortgage. When refinancing a paid-off home, you'll decide how much you want to borrow, up to the loan limit your lender allows.

How long do you have to keep a mortgage before selling?

Consider The Five-Year Rule of Real Estate

By allowing time for property values to appreciate and mortgage balances to decrease through regular payments, homeowners can accumulate substantial equity over five years, providing a cushion to offset the various expenses associated with selling and moving.

What happens when you sell your house for more than you paid?

If you owned and lived in the home for a total of two of the five years before the sale, then up to $250,000 of profit is tax-free (or up to $500,000 if you are married and file a joint return). If your profit exceeds the $250,000 or $500,000 limit, the excess is typically reported as a capital gain on Schedule D.

What is the best alternative to foreclosure?

Your Options to Avoid Foreclosure
  • Reinstate Your Loan.
  • Enter Into a Repayment Plan.
  • Enter Into a Forbearance Agreement.
  • Work Out a Loan Modification.
  • Refinance.
  • File for Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.
  • Give Up Your House In a Short Sale or Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure.
  • Workouts for Government-Backed Mortgages.

Is it legal for my mortgage to be sold?

As a homeowner, you typically cannot prevent your mortgage from being sold or transferred. The lender has the legal right to sell the mortgage to another entity, lender or investor, under federal law and under the terms of your loan contract (read the fine print).

Can I keep my mortgage if I move?

Porting a mortgage means you transfer the deal you've got on your old home to the new place you're buying. The majority of mortgages, though not all of them, can be ported to another home. There can be restrictions on the number of times you can port a mortgage. Porting will not always be the best deal for you.

Is there a penalty for porting a mortgage?

Porting allows you to keep your existing mortgage, including the rate and terms, and transfer it to a new property without the penalty you would need to pay if you break your existing mortgage.

Can I move my mortgage to another bank without refinancing?

You can switch mortgage companies without refinancing only before the home purchase closes. After that, you can change to a different lender through a refinancing.

Can you sell a house with a mortgage?

Here's the simple answer: Yes, you can sell a house with a mortgage. In fact, it's fairly common to do so.

Can my daughter assume my mortgage?

A family member (or sometimes even non-relatives) can assume an existing mortgage on a home they've inherited. If one person is awarded sole ownership of a property in divorce proceedings, that person can assume the full existing mortgage themselves.

Can you transfer a mortgage to one person?

Can a joint mortgage be transferred to one person? A joint mortgage can be transferred to one person, providing your lender agrees to it - they will need to assess your income and expenditure to see if you meet their affordability requirements.

Can you buy someone out of a house without refinancing?

Typically, removing a name from a mortgage could require you to pay off the loan in full or refinance it with a new loan. But, there are alternatives where you can take over the loan without paying off it off or refinancing. These could include mortgage assumption, loan modification and bankruptcy.

How to take over a mortgage from a seller?

The lender of the original mortgage must approve the mortgage assumption before the deal can be signed off on by either party. The homebuyer must apply for the assumable loan and meet the lender's requirements, such as having sufficient assets and being creditworthy.

Can I take over my parents' mortgage after death?

The right to potentially assume (take over) the mortgage.

All successors in California have a right to apply for an assumption of the loan, as long as the loan is assumable. The servicer may evaluate your creditworthiness, including your credit scores, when considering you for an assumption.