What if I don't want my house anymore?

Asked by: Augustus Doyle  |  Last update: February 26, 2026
Score: 4.6/5 (18 votes)

Your mortgage company will help you choose the best option: vacating the home, staying in the home for up to three months rent-free, or leasing the home at market rates for up to one year.

What happens if you buy a house and don't want it anymore?

Since there is no place to give a house up for adoption, if you find you don't want it anymore, your option is to keep it and either live there, albeit unhappily, turn it into a rental (if conditions allow), or sell it. See, once you own something (house, car, whatever), it's yours.

What happens if I don't want to sell my house anymore?

If you don't sell your house, you may continue to incur ongoing expenses such as mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and maintenance costs. Depending on your financial situation, holding onto the property could strain your finances, especially if you're unable to cover these expenses.

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.

What happens if you surrender 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. You must agree to leave the home in good condition and move by a specified date.

Jordan Peterson: what happens if you stay in your house for too long

26 related questions found

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 happens if I just abandon my house?

Local governments will seize properties that have been vacated and left unoccupied for a long time and tend to attract undesirable attention. There are two terms to take note of when it comes to abandoned properties: Distressed Properties: These homes are in poor condition due to financial hardship or neglect.

Can I legally leave my house?

Yes, in the United States, you can legally move out at 18 even if you are still in school. Turning 18 typically grants you the status of an adult in the eyes of the law, which means you gain the legal right to make decisions about your living arrangements among other things, regardless of your educational status.

Can I give my house back to a mortgage company?

With a Mortgage Release — also known as a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure — you can voluntarily transfer ownership of your home to your mortgage company with no further financial responsibility for the mortgage. You don't need to be in foreclosure to pursue a Mortgage Release.

How to get rid of your house if it won't sell?

If you really can't sell your house, there are a few alternatives you may consider:
  1. Putting the house up for rent.
  2. Wait for the housing market to improve.
  3. Wait until you fix up the home.
  4. Foreclosure (should be your last option)

What happens if I refuse to sell my house?

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.

How do I back out of selling my house?

3 Steps To Cancel A Real Estate Contact
  1. Consult An Attorney. In any situation involving contracts, it's a good idea to consult a legal professional. ...
  2. Notify The Buyer. The next step is to inform the home buyer that you want to cancel the sale. ...
  3. Consider Offering Compensation.

Can I change my mind after agreeing to sell my house?

Most home sales involve the use of a standard real estate contract, which provides a five-day attorney review provision. During this time, the seller's attorney or the buyer's attorney can cancel the contract for any reason.

What happens if I change my mind about buying a house?

You can back out of buying a house any time before closing. However, you'll likely face penalties — including possibly being sued — if the purchase agreement has already been signed and you're backing out for a reason that isn't listed as a contingency in the purchase agreement.

What happens if I can't afford my house anymore?

If there is a hardship, your servicer will explore mortgage assistance options with you. Options might include a repayment plan, loan modification, short sale or Deed-In-Lieu of foreclosure. If a mortgage assistance solution cannot be reached, and the account remains delinquent, your home may be foreclosed on.

What to do if you bought a house you don't like?

Renovate. You may have bought your house just to get into a great neighborhood, even if you weren't in love with the house. One of the best ways to make a house more of your own, then, is to renovate.

What happens if I voluntarily surrender my 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 to get out of your mortgage legally?

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.

When you take out a mortgage who truly owns the home?

In California, you own the home, with your mortgage owner(s) having first rights to any proceeds from a sale.

Who has to leave the house in a divorce?

Because California is a community property state, if the couple bought the house while they were married, they both have an ownership stake in it, and neither can compel the other to leave.

What to do if you want to leave your house?

5 tips if you want to move out
  1. Take your time before deciding.
  2. Talk about it to your parents or carers.
  3. Get advice from specialist organisations.
  4. Plan what you'll need to do.
  5. Sort your finances.

Can my parents take away something I bought with my own money?

Number one, if your kid bought it with their own money, then it's their property.

What is mortgage abandonment?

Abandoned Mortgage Obligation- Abandoned Mortgage Obligation is the situation when. a borrower fails to honor the obligations under the terms and conditions of the mortgage.

Can you legally abandon property?

Instead, abandonment can only be found in situations dealing with personal property. Yet when the property interests in real property are in the nature of incorporeal hereditaments, the California Supreme Court has found that those interests can be abandoned.

What happens if you leave a house empty?

The most common structural damages to occur in a vacant home include: Leaky, broken, or frozen pipes. Mold. Termites and other insects or animals.