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What are the tax implications if you go through a foreclosure, short sale, or deed-in-lieu? (Hint: potentially not good)

A question recently arose when dealing with a client facing the loss of a distressed property: “how am I taxed if I should allow the property to go through the foreclosure process? Am I taxed on the balance of the loan that is not collected as a result of the foreclosure.” The short answer is that yes, you’re probably exposed to some tax liability. (This also goes for short sales and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure when the bank elects to waive whatever deficiency it could have obtained.)

Typically, when debt is cancelled by a creditor, it results in ordinary income to the debtor. For instance, if you owe someone $50,000 and they simply forgive that debt, then you’ll be responsible for income of $50,000 for the year that the forgiveness took place. There are other tax considerations that offset this impact potentially, but the general rule applies.

However, there are nuances in the tax code when it comes to foreclosure. According to the IRS, if your loan is a non-recourse loan (meaning that the lender’s ONLY remedy in the case of default is to foreclose/repossess the property), then any deficiency above and beyond that amount is not considered taxable. So, is Washington a “non-recourse” state? It is and it isn’t – but for tax purposes, it does not matter. According to RCW 61.24.100(1), a bank cannot obtain a judgment for the deficiency after a typical non-judicial foreclosure. One would assume that this means that Washington law supports the idea that its home loans are non-recourse. But it isn’t that simple.

Washington law affords the lender two pathways to foreclose on property and collect against a homeowner in the event of a breach: a non-judicial foreclosure (where the bank forecloses through the Deed of Trust law, which is by far the most common), or judicial foreclosure (where the bank actually sues the homeowner and compels sale of the property through a Sheriff’s sale). It is this option between the two methods of foreclosure which is key to why homeowners are likely taxed for the deficiency in the event of a foreclosure.

The IRS’s guide described it thus:

A non-recourse loan is a loan for which the lender’s only remedy in case of default is to repossess the property being financed or used as collateral.That is, the lender cannot pursue you personally in case of default. Forgiveness of a non-recourse loan resulting from a foreclosure does not result in cancellation of debt income.

So, while there is a temptation to think that if a bank cancels whatever remaining debt that results from a judicial foreclosure (short sale, deed-in-lieu), one escapes having to report the cancellation as income, it is not the case. Because the banks have the option to pursue either a judicial or non-judicial foreclosure at the time the agreement was entered into, it is likely that the homeowner will be subject to taxation of whatever deficiency was waived or cancelled.

(Please note that this firm is not an accounting firm, nor does it specialize in tax law. The US tax code is complex and the debt cancellation issue is one that is impacted by many other factors which are not discussed here. If you believe you may be facing such an issue, our advice would be to consult with a tax attorney or certified public accountant for clarification.)

How long does a homeowner have to remain in the home after a foreclosure sale takes place?

A common question we get is how long after a foreclosure has taken place can the owner of the property expect to stay in the home? The answer can be found in the RCW:

The purchaser at the trustee’s sale shall be entitled to possession of the property on the twentieth day following the sale, as against the borrower and grantor under the deed of trust and anyone having an interest junior to the deed of trust, including occupants who are not tenants, who were given all of the notices to which they were entitled under this chapter. The purchaser shall also have a right to the summary proceedings to obtain possession of real property provided in chapter 59.12 RCW.

61.24.060. Rights and remedies of trustee’s sale purchaser–Written notice to occupants or tenants, WA ST 61.24.060
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After the 20 days have run, the party attempting to gain possession of the property must then follow the procedures contained in RCW 59.12. This statute covers the rules and procedures to evict someone from a property. If you include the statutory time it takes to execute the actual eviction, a property owner might expect to stay in the property for another several days. A smart strategy would be to negotiate a payment from the new owner of the property. Under the right circumstances, they may be willing to pay a modest relocation payment so as to avoid the hassle of having to try and push through the eviction procedures.

A word on the HAMP program

Since the beginning of the recession in 2008, loan modification programs have been available primarily through the Home Affordable Mortgage Program (HAMP). If a homeowner was unable to quality, the individual mortgage company could offer its own programs.

Normally, the goal of a modification is a lower monthly payment through reduced interest rates, elongating the term of the loan, principal balance reduction, or a combination of all. Our firm has helped clients since the downturn’s beginning with modifications. We have seen a tremendous amount succeed through the lowered interest rates and/or lengthening the loan. Seldom, however, did lenders reduce principal balances. But now they are. Over several months, we have seen an uptick in this remedy, sometimes several thousand dollars or even tens of thousands in reduced balance. We have seen eliminations of entire second mortgage balances.

You may have heard of the settlement five banks reached with the federal government, called the New National Mortgage Settlement. In February 2012, the federal government and 49 states (Oklahoma did not participate) entered into a settlement with the country’s five largest loan lenders: Ally, Bank of America, Citi Bank, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. In the settlement, $25 billion is set aside for mortgage relief to underwater homeowners, $17 billion of which for loan modifications and principal reductions.

As we watch the effect of this settlement unfold, we can only assume it will further benefit the homeowners who qualify though they must be borrowers of the settling banks or servicers. In a later Blog entry, focus on eligibility will be discussed.

–Contributed by Michael P. Dickson

Podcast: Foreclosure Fairness Act – What is it, and how to take advantage of the mediation option

 In this podcast, Rob Dickson describes how the new Foreclosure Fairness Act has impacted foreclosures in Washington. (Photo Credit: jscreationzs)

 

Podcast: Washington State is a “non-recourse” loan state (kind of)

In this podcast, Rob Dickson discusses the difference between non-recourse and recourse loans and how they effect foreclosures in Washington State.

IMF pushing for US banks to reduce principal amounts on home loans

HouseDebtAccording to a recent Washington Post article by Howard Schneider, the International Monetary Fund is pushing for lenders in the United States to agree to principal reductions on their existing loans.

As a general rule, banks are very (VERY) reluctant to reduce principal reductions.  It will be interesting to see if these types of pressures, from international organizations to be exact, will actually have an effect on the loan modification strategies that US lending institutions currently follow.

Here’s a quote from the article:

 

“International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde called on the U.S. government to reduce the mortgage debt owed by homeowners as a way help to revive the nation’s economy and stimulate growth in the wider industrialized world.

Speaking Thursday at the Brookings Institution, Lagarde urged that this relief be extended to loans held by mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The issue of whether to reduce mortgages held by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, representing more than half of U.S. home loans, has become contentious in Washington in recent months.

Ahead of the IMF’s spring meetings next week, agency analysts have been warning that household debt — in particular, mortgages that are in default or that exceed the value of the borrower’s home — is dragging down growth in developed countries at a time when the global economy is struggling to revive.”

Photo: renjith krishnan

What is a deed-in-lieu?

dsadsadasDebtors who have defaulted on their obligations under a real estate security agreement typically face foreclosure, either judicial or non-judicial.  A deed in lieu of foreclosure is another type of procedure to deal with a distressed property.  A deed in lieu is a transfer to a lender of title to real estate that fully or partially satisfies the debt that the property secures. These transactions may have significant benefits for both parties. First, a deed in lieu saves much of the time and cost of a foreclosure and gives the lender more direct and immediate control of the property. A deed in lieu may also be beneficial to the debtor if he or she just wants to convey the property and essentially be done with it.

 

While deeds in lieu have these advantages there are some potential pitfalls to this procedure.  First, if there are junior mortgages or liens on the property the deed in lieu does not serve to extinguish those liens.  In the event that there are junior liens, chances are good that unless the senior and junior lienholders negotiate an agreement the junior liens will be advanced against the title in the senior lienholder’s hands.  Second, a deed in lieu may be considered to be an equitable mortgage and not a complete conveyance. Only one Washington case has held found a deed in lieu to be an equitable mortgage, but depending on the nature of the transaction it remains a possibility.  Finally, a deed in lieu may be set aside on the grounds of fraud or overreaching. Washington courts have failed to do so thus far but other jurisdictions have done so, particularly when the value of the land exceeds the indebtedness or when the lender is desperate or suffers a disability.

With these advantages and possible pitfalls in mind, but before a deed in lieu is actually conveyed, the mortgagor and the lender should enter into an agreement that covers these details.

Photo Credit: Renjith Krishnan/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Foreclosure Fairness Act: Links and Resources

Here are some useful links to assist those wanting more information about the Foreclosure Fairness Act:

Department of Commerce, FFA timeline

Washington State Department of Commerce, foreclosure page

Washington State Housing Finance Commission (good resource for home ownership issues)

US Department of Housing and Urban Development (housing counselor search)

Dickson Law Group (law firm short sale and loan modification expertise…and the sponsor of this great blog, of course.)

Department of Financial Institutions – Home ownership page