Do banks want you to foreclose?

Asked by: Mr. Burley Lebsack MD  |  Last update: February 8, 2026
Score: 4.4/5 (26 votes)

It is true that in most cases, lenders do not want to foreclose on a home. The process for them is lengthy, and they typically do not receive the full value of the loan. Unfortunately, sometimes lenders really do want to foreclose on a home.

Do banks want to foreclose on homes?

Foreclosure is not the bank's first choice, they don't want your home, and there are actually reasons that they want to help you keep it. While you took out a loan so you could buy a house for yourself and your family, your lender gave you a mortgage loan to make money for themselves and their shareholders.

How do foreclosures work in TN?

Foreclosure can happen in Tennessee either by judicial action or by newspaper advertisement (Sheriff Sale). The most common foreclosure action in Tennessee is by advertisement. In this procedure, the lender's attorney advertises the property for sale in a general-circulation newspaper for three consecutive weeks.

Do banks prefer short sale or foreclosure?

Short sales actually bring the bank more money than they would receive in the foreclosure process. This myth that the bank would rather foreclose remains prevalent because of the extreme difficulty people face during the loan modification process.

Why would a bank not foreclose on a house?

Depends how badly the bank wants to sell the property. Generally banks don't like to hold onto Foreclosed properties as it costs them money since they aren't getting money from the loan and it's a liability for them to hold a house . Sounds like the bank is being greedy. I would wait and they may change their mind.

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28 related questions found

Do mortgage companies really want to foreclose?

It is true that in most cases, lenders do not want to foreclose on a home. The process for them is lengthy, and they typically do not receive the full value of the loan. Unfortunately, sometimes lenders really do want to foreclose on a home.

Can a bank lock you out of your home?

Banks sometimes lock homeowners out of their homes during a foreclosure without the legal right to do so. Learn how you can prevent it. If a home going through a foreclosure is vacant, the foreclosing party can secure the property by changing the locks or boarding up the windows, for example.

Do banks usually negotiate on foreclosures?

Banks almost always negotiate on the bids they receive – they rarely accept them on the first go-around. They'll review the bids and take the highest offers, negotiating with buyers to get the dollar amount they want for the home.

How low will a bank go on a foreclosure?

Purchasing a Foreclosed Home

The longer the bank has held the property, the greater the odds that it will seriously consider low offers. You could make an initial bid at a price at least 20% below the current market price, or even more if the property is located in an area with a high incidence of foreclosures.

Why do banks sell foreclosures so cheap?

Foreclosed properties are typically sold by lenders or banks at discounted rates to recover their losses swiftly. As a result, buyers may find themselves acquiring a property at a significantly reduced cost compared to its market value.

What is the 120 day rule for foreclosure?

Judicial Foreclosure

The bank must wait until payments are more than 120 days delinquent before filing a legal complaint (the court document that starts a lawsuit) with the court. The lender might be required to wait longer to file the suit if the homeowner submits a loss mitigation application.

How to avoid foreclosure in Tennessee?

How Do You Stop a Foreclosure in Tennessee? A few potential ways to stop a foreclosure and keep your home include reinstating the loan, redeeming the property, or filing for bankruptcy. Working out a loss mitigation option, like a loan modification, will also stop a foreclosure.

Do I still owe money if my house is foreclosed?

This means that if your loan falls under California's anti-deficiency protections, you're not going to owe any additional money to the bank after the foreclosure sale.

Should I let my house go into foreclosure?

Foreclosure will have a major impact on your credit for sure and it could wipe out a big chunk of your equity depending on how much the bank sells the house for and what costs they tack on for running the process. You're better off selling at a $100k discount than getting foreclosed on.

Who sets the price on a foreclosure?

The sale price of foreclosed homes can be influenced by several key factors: Starting Bid: The auction typically starts with a bid set by the lender, often based on the outstanding mortgage balance. This starting bid can significantly shape the subsequent offers and final sale price.

Can you go to jail for foreclosure?

No. Foreclosure is a civil matter.

Can you offer below asking on a foreclosure?

You might be tempted to make a low offer on a foreclosed home because foreclosed properties often sell for less than traditional homes. But if you make an offer that's too low, the seller may reject it.

Who suffers the most in a foreclosure?

Who Suffers the Most in Foreclosure? Homeowners suffer the most in foreclosure because they lose the home that they live in as well as take a huge financial loss due to the foreclosure.

What is the downside of a foreclosure?

For properties that have been abandoned for a period of time, there may be leaks, problems with mold and vandalism, sometimes from the resentful prior owner. Those repair costs can be massive. Another major issue could be additional liens, mortgages or back taxes on the property.

Why do banks prefer foreclosure to short sale?

Banks are businesses and, just like any business, they are seeking to earn a profit. If it costs more to foreclose over agreeing to a short sale, the bank is very likely to favor the short sale. With foreclosure, a bank takes possession of the house, then resells it at a mortgage auction to the highest bidder.

Will a bank take less for a foreclosure?

The bank's goal of selling a foreclosed property is to recoup their costs as quickly as possible, as there are usually multiple foreclosed properties they're dealing with. Because of this, banks are less emotional about the value of a home than a homeowner would be and will often begin reducing the asking price.

What bank has the most foreclosures?

10 banks foreclosing on the most homeowners
  1. Bank of America. Loans in foreclosure: 96,319.
  2. Wells Fargo. Loans in foreclosure: 84,903. ...
  3. J.P. Morgan Chase. Loans in foreclosure: 54,325. ...
  4. U.S. Bancorp. Loans in foreclosure: 44,881. ...
  5. Deutsche Bank. Loans in foreclosure: 33,608. ...
  6. Bank of New York Mellon. ...
  7. Citigroup. ...
  8. HSBC Holdings. ...

Can a bank accept payment during foreclosure?

A: If you are attempting to pay off the mortgage to stop the foreclosure, the bank is generally obligated to accept the payoff amount as long as it is the correct amount owed. Under California law, the bank must provide a payoff statement that includes the total amount needed to satisfy the mortgage debt.

When can a bank seize your house?

Generally, federal law prohibits a lender from starting foreclosure until the borrower is more than 120 days past due.

Is it legal for a bank to close your account without permission?

Yes, a bank or credit union can close your account without your permission. A bank or credit union is most likely to do this if you have written bad checks or don't have enough in your account to cover your fees.