Foreclosure University Deficiency Judgment / 1099

Question:  We had 2 investment properties – 1 foreclosed in 2009 and we just got a 1099 C for the second (which was part of the 80/20 purchase money. We also got a 1099 C for the second on the second property that foreclosed in March of 2010 again purchase money. How do we report this? Is this income? If so and we owe a crazy amount to the IRS what can we do when we have little reserve?

Answer:  - This is reported as income on your taxes. Your accountant will help you through all this. In many cases, you can claim insolvent which means your liabilities exceed your assets or if it was a personal residence because of the new laws you won’t have to pay taxes on this amount. Have your accountant help you with all this, it makes it much easier.

Question:  My husband and I own a condo in Florida. We paid $163,000 and it is now worth $30,000. It costs us about $20,000 to keep up yearly. We are really struggling to make the payments and are thinking that we just can’t anymore. I am really worried. We own a house in New York and it has some equity (maybe $100,000). Can they come after my house in NY and put a lien or judgement on it if we foreclose? We didn’t use the house or anything from NY for the mortgage in Florida. Thanks. Also, our only income is from SS Disability and a pension.

Answer:  - This is unfortunate. You like many others have had the same thing happen to them. It’s hard to suggest what to do in this case… all you can do is all you can do. If you can’t afford it, then you can’t afford it. Yes, the lender can a file deficiency judgment against you for the loss, but most homeowners will file bankruptcy which wipes out the judgment. In this case where you have equity in your personal residence, it would be in your best interest to work out something with the bank to avoid the judgment altogether. Make sure when you work out your agreement, you settle on a “satisfaction” of the loan, that way the worst they can do is 1099 you for the amount they lost.

Question:  I have a house that is currently going through the short-sell process. I have an approval letter for the first and the second. The second is stating “BAC Home Loans Servicing, LP and/or its investors may pursue a deficiency judgment for the difference in the payment received and the total balance due, unless agreed otherwise or prohibited by law, if the short sale closes on the loan referenced above.” I live in CA and the second was an home equity line of credit (HELOC). We have already agreed to pay $2500 to the second and they have agreed, but they are still including this language in the short sale approval letter. What rights do they have to sue us later on?

Answer:  - It depends on what you agree to as part of the payoff. This is where you need to make sure you ADD to the payoff letter that the $2500 is for “full satisfaction” of the loan. See there are 2 types of payoffs. 1 is a “release of lien” which means you pay the mortgage company $2500 and they retain the right to still come after you for the deficient amount. The other payoff is a “satisfaction” which means “paid in full” – they give up their right to come after you for the deficient amount (which is called a deficiency judgment). All they can do is 1099 you for the amount lost of which you can file form 982 and in most cases claim insolvency and negate the 1099. If it was your personal residence, with Obama’s new laws in place, you may not have to pay anyway. So whatever you do, please please please get the satisfaction. Sometimes if they don’t agree to a satisfaction of loan, you’ll just have to pay a little extra more to get that piece of mind.

Question:  My mortgage company, PNC, has accepted a short sale offer on my house. I owe approximately $149,000 and the accepted offer is for $115,000. Coinciding with my application for short sale, PNC moved forward with foreclosure. The court, in Pennsylvania, granted judgement in foreclosure for the owed mortgage balance plus legal fees. Based on what I have read, because I do not have a second mortgage, HELOC and have not refinanced I am at low risk of being sued for the deficient balance after short sale. My concern is that PNC will, however, pursue me for legal fees involved with the foreclosure even though the short sale was accepted post hoc. Can you provide any insight or advice?

Answer:  - Most of the time banks won’t come after you for just legal fees, if they come after you, they will file a judgment for the amount they lost because it costs them a great deal more to pursue someone for a deficiency. So unless they are confident you can pay, they typically will 1099 the homeowner instead. And if you’re like most homeowners, the debt relief act will counteract the 1099 or you could claim insolvency. Best to talk to you accountant if you have specific questions.

Question:  I owed $110,000 on a credit line; tried to sell my house, but couldn’t sell it for that amount. I walked away. I have some money in annuities and ira. Can the bank take that?

Answer:  - No they can’t take anything away from you because the property itself was pledged as collateral for the loan. All they get is the property back. What you have to watch out for is if they file a deficiency against you it the property was sold for less than the amount owed. If the file a deficiency judgment again you and you don’t have the ability to pay, the bank can then begin to garnish wages. At this point most people file bankruptcy. It is at this time where your annuities and IRA may be affected. If at all possible, try to negotiate a “deal” with the bank to get them to agree to a satisfaction which means they can’t file a judgment against you. They will just issue you a 1099.