What happens if I voluntarily surrender my house?

Asked by: Liana Fadel  |  Last update: August 24, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (9 votes)

With a voluntary foreclosure, you may be liable to pay 100% of the difference between the value of your home and the remaining balance on your mortgage. Finding a new home: Because you leave your current home, you'll need to find a new one.

What happens when you voluntarily surrender your house?

A voluntary surrender repossession is a certain type of legal agreement where a person in mortgage arrears hands back the keys to their property to the lender. Once this is done, it cannot be undone, and you will lose the house forever.

How bad is a voluntary foreclosure?

A voluntary foreclosure will result in a hefty ding to the borrower's credit. This will make it difficult to get approval for other loans, credit cards, and other forms of credit. The effects of foreclosure may even affect the borrower's ability to get a job.

What happens if you give up your house?

What Happens If You Foreclose Your Own House? If you volunteer to willingly foreclose on your home, your lender will allow you to surrender your home in exchange for canceling the mortgage debt.

Can I just give my house back to the bank?

(Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure)

The option where you agree to give your home to the lender as long as they agree to cancel out the loan is known as a “deed in lieu of foreclosure”. Unlike a short sale, this transfers the responsibility of selling the home to the lender.

🥊 MYTHBUSTERS: After a voluntary car surrender, does the car loan go away?🥊

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Will a mortgage company buy back a house?

The answer to this question is yes, you can give your house back to the bank to avoid foreclosure in a process known as deed in lieu of foreclosure. Before pursuing this option, first look into a short sale, loan modification, or simply selling the property.

What if I don't want my house anymore?

A Mortgage Release can be a good alternative to foreclosure if you owe more than your home is worth. You may have the option to vacate the home, stay in the home rent-free for up to three months, or lease the home at market rates for up to one year.

What happens if I just walk away from my mortgage?

What Are the Consequences of Walking Away From a Mortgage? It doesn't matter if you're in a recourse or non-recourse state, walking away from a mortgage will harm your credit score. Because of the negative impact on your credit report, you'll probably have difficulty getting a mortgage to buy a new home.

What does it mean to surrender a property?

In common law, surrender is the term describing a situation where a tenant gives up possession of property held under a tenancy as a result of which the tenancy ends. A surrender differs from an eviction on the question of mutual agreement.

How to get rid of a house you don't want?

How to Get Rid of a House That Won't Sell: 5 Alternative Options
  1. Short Sale. If you owe more than your home is worth, you may consider doing a short sale in which your lender accepts less than your mortgage balance to pay off the loan. ...
  2. Foreclosure. ...
  3. Lease Option. ...
  4. Sell Below Market Value. ...
  5. Employment Relocation Program.

How long does a voluntary surrender stay on credit?

Voluntary surrender counts as a derogatory or negative mark and will stay on your credit reports for up to seven years. This stain on your credit reports might prevent you from being approved for new credit and your terms, like interest rates, will likely be higher.

Is voluntary surrender better than repossession?

Is a surrender better than a repo? A voluntary surrender is generally better than a repossession because it demonstrates that the borrower took the initiative to return the vehicle and resolve the issue. This proactive approach may be looked upon more favorably by future lenders compared to a forced repossession.

How to voluntarily foreclose on a house?

Lenders will sometimes accept a deed in lieu of foreclosure. This means that the homeowner will surrender title and possession of the property voluntarily, rather than requiring the lender to go through the full foreclosure process.

What are the consequences of voluntary surrender?

While surrendering the vehicle voluntarily may be seen more favorably by lenders compared to repossession, it can still result in a substantial drop in your credit rating. Additionally, you may remain liable for any shortfall balance after the vehicle is sold at auction, further adding to your financial obligations.

What happens if you let the bank take your house?

The house is foreclosed on and put up for Public auction. The first bidder is the bank in the amount of your outstanding balance. Anyone can bid more than that amount and become the new owner. Any difference between the outstanding balance owed to the bank and the bid amount less auction fees etc.

Can I sell my house to my mortgage company?

Sell the home in a short sale: A short sale is when you sell your home for less than the amount you owe on it, but the proceeds go directly to your mortgage lender. Often, this is in exchange for forgiveness of your remaining mortgage balance.

What are typical surrender fees?

Surrender fees vary among insurance companies that offer annuity and insurance contracts. A typical annuity surrender fee could be 10% of the funds contributed to the contract within the first year it is effective. For each successive year of the contract, the surrender fee might drop by 1%.

Can I voluntarily surrender my house?

When homeowners are facing foreclosure, one option available to them is to voluntarily surrender their property to the lender. This process is known as "voluntary surrender," and it can be a helpful solution for those who are unable to make their mortgage payments and are facing the possibility of losing their home.

What are the rules of surrender?

Soldiers must make their intent to surrender clear and unequivocal and their behavior must not create any ambiguity and must not challenge the opposing party whatsoever. Soldiers that have expressed their desire to cease combat must follow fully the instructions provided by the opposing party.

How can I legally get out of my mortgage?

How To Get Out Of Your Mortgage Legally
  1. Talk To Your Lender. Homeowners who find themselves under financial duress are advised to speak with their lender as soon as possible. ...
  2. Sell Your Home. ...
  3. Request A Deed In Lieu Of Foreclosure. ...
  4. Have A Short Sale. ...
  5. Let Your House Go Into Foreclosure. ...
  6. Strategic Default.

What happens if you pull out of a house?

Pulling out of the sale after exchange of contracts

You'll also lose any money you've spent on surveys, advisor fees, mortgage fees and so on. Most importantly though, withdrawing from the sale after the exchange of contracts means the seller is entitled to keep your deposit.

What happens if you abandon your house and mortgage?

The lender uses the legal system to take possession of the property. While the homeowner is often allowed to live in the property for months (free of charge) while the foreclosure process takes place, the lender will be making an active effort to collect on the debt, and, in the end, the homeowner will be evicted.

What happens if you don't want to sell your house anymore?

If you break the sales agreement without a valid legal reason for doing so, the buyer can take you to court to enforce specific performance of the purchase contract.

What happens if you lose your job and can't pay your mortgage?

If you lose your job through no fault of your own, you might be able to get help with your mortgage payments. You could be eligible for assistance from the government, your mortgage servicer (working on behalf of the lender), or both. Some programs provide money to pay your monthly mortgage payments.

What is it called when I don't want to leave my house?

Agoraphobia is a type of anxiety disorder. A person with agoraphobia is afraid to leave environments they know or consider to be safe. In severe cases, a person with agoraphobia considers their home to be the only safe environment. They may avoid leaving their home for days, months or even years.