Underwater mortgage: know your options
What to do if your home is worth less than what you owe
An underwater mortgage is when a homeowner owes more on their mortgage than the appraised home value. This was common during the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009, when home values plummeted and homeowners carried mortgages based on pre-recession values.
Although economic conditions have changed since then, Redfin estimates that if home values were to decline by about 4% in 2023, about 3% of homeowners who bought within the last two years would be underwater.
Having an underwater mortgage can cause stress and concern, but there are options that may ease some of the financial burden.
Key insights
- An underwater mortgage is when your home value depreciates to below the amount of your remaining mortgage balance.
- Declining home values or falling behind on mortgage payments can lead to an underwater mortgage.
- Refinancing, short selling or staying put and waiting out the market are all options if your mortgage is underwater.
What causes an underwater mortgage?
When you owe more on your mortgage than what your home is worth, it’s known as an underwater mortgage. Another name for it is an upside-down mortgage or having negative home equity.
There are a couple of scenarios that can cause an underwater mortgage.
When home values decline
A declining housing market can cause an underwater mortgage. This is when the home values drop in general, and you’re unable to sell your home for enough money to cover the remaining mortgage.
For example, assume you bought a home for $300,000 two years ago. You put down a $60,000 down payment and used a mortgage loan to cover the remaining $240,000. At the time, you had a mortgage appraisal to get approved for the loan, and the appraised value came back at $240,000.
Fast-forward two years later: The housing market is not as robust as it was, and homes in the area have started selling for a lower amount. If a current home appraisal shows the value as lower than your outstanding loan balance, then the mortgage is underwater.
The prevalence of underwater mortgages has significantly diminished since the housing crisis of 2009.”
Thankfully, while this scenario was likely familiar to homeowners during the housing crisis, it’s not as common in the current marketplace.
''In today's transformed housing market, the prevalence of underwater mortgages has significantly diminished since the housing crisis of 2009. … The dynamics have shifted, and the occurrence of such situations is now super uncommon,” said Alex Shekhtman, the CEO of LBC Mortgage, a broker based in Los Angeles.
If you fall behind on mortgage payments
Another cause of underwater mortgages is falling behind on mortgage payments. When you make payments toward a mortgage in the early years of the loan term, most of the monthly payment is going toward interest — not the principal.
By missing or falling behind on mortgage payments, you allow more interest to accumulate because the principal is staying the same. The owed interest compounds, which can make it even more difficult for you to “catch up” on payments, thus putting you upside down on the mortgage.
Risks of an underwater mortgage
An underwater mortgage is not an ideal financial scenario for any homeowner for several reasons:
- Decreased chance of refinancing: When a mortgage is underwater, it virtually eliminates any chance of refinancing without the use of a government-backed loan. Lenders look at equity when assessing the risk of a buyer, so not having any equity makes it much riskier for the lender.
- Negative equity: The negative equity in an underwater mortgage means you will owe money at closing if you sell the property. This may put a huge financial strain on your finances, as it limits the amount you can put into another property, savings or paying off debt.
- Difficulty selling the property: It may be more difficult to sell, since you are responsible for any balance of the mortgage that isn’t covered by the sale.
- Risk of foreclosure: If the payments become too much or you are unable to sell the property, you may fall further behind, putting you at an increased risk of foreclosure.
» MORE: What is preforeclosure?
What to do if you have an underwater mortgage
A number of options are available to those with underwater mortgages.
Keep paying
“Homeowners can find solace in the fact that even if their property value temporarily declines, their primary responsibility remains fulfilling their mortgage obligations,” said Shekhtman. “The focus for homeowners should be on diligently paying down their mortgage and patiently awaiting the appreciation of their property's value over time.”
Loan modification
A mortgage lender that offers this option will likely use a “trial period” to ensure you can make the new payments, but bear in mind this option may extend the length of your loan or add a large balloon payment to the end.
Refinance
If you have an existing Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan and are current with your payments but are underwater, you may qualify for an FHA streamline refinance . The advantage to this option is it requires little underwriting or documentation, although there may be high costs tacked onto the loan.
There are also similar programs, like the Freddie Mac Enhanced Relief Refinance Mortgage and the Fannie Mae High LTV Refinance Option, but both programs are currently paused.
Sell the home
This balance might not include the other numerous expenses associated with selling a home, including closing costs and moving expenses.
Short sale
Sometimes the lender will forgive the difference in price. But other times, the homeowner must make debt settlement arrangements for the difference, and the short sale will impact the borrower’s credit. Although it is a loss for the lender, it’s likely a less expensive alternative than a foreclosure.
Foreclosure
Foreclosure can have a devastating impact on your finances. It shows on your credit report for seven years, making it difficult to qualify for another mortgage or other loan.
Bankruptcy
A Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out debt obligations, including a mortgage, but it means you can no longer stay in the home. A Chapter 13 bankruptcy may allow you to keep your home, but there may be a loan modification during the bankruptcy process for the remainder of your mortgage balance.
The consequences of bankruptcy follow you for a long time, staying on your credit report for up to 10 years. It may keep you from purchasing another home or qualifying for other types of loans.
How to know if your mortgage is underwater
An underwater mortgage is connected to your current home value. To find your home’s value in today’s market, you can:
- Check recent sales in your neighborhood and ZIP code.
- Use a home value estimator tool for a general idea.
- Obtain a home appraisal through a professional company.
» MORE: Low home appraisal: why it happens and how it can affect your refinance
FAQ
Does an underwater mortgage affect my credit score?
Being upside-down on a mortgage isn’t reported on a credit report. However, activities such as missed payments, a short sale, foreclosure or bankruptcy all have effects on your credit score.
Can I rent out my home if I have an underwater mortgage?
Yes, you can rent out your home if you’re in an underwater mortgage. However, if you are in the process of filing bankruptcy, you should inform your bankruptcy attorney.
How can you prevent an underwater mortgage?
Making timely mortgage payments is one of the best methods for preventing an underwater mortgage. If you find your payments are getting harder to manage, the best approach is to stay proactive to find a more affordable solution instead of falling behind on payments.
Bottom line
Underwater mortgages are concerning because of the financial impact if you need to sell your home or use your home equity for other financial reasons. However, there are options available to homeowners, including loan modifications or a short sale.
While it’s not an ideal situation, if you’re having trouble making payments, then the most important step is to reach out to your lender or service provider as soon as you can so you can work together to find a solution.
Article sources
- Redfin, “ Just 3 in 100 Pandemic Homebuyers Would Fall Underwater With Next Year’s Projected 4% Home-Value Decline .” Accessed May 18, 2023.
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, “ What is mortgage loan modification? ” Accessed May 18, 2023.
- Fannie Mae, “ High LTV Refinance Option .” Accessed May 18, 2023.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “ Streamline Your FHA Mortgage .” Accessed May 18, 2023.
- Freddie Mac, “ Enhanced Relief Refinance Mortgage .” Accessed May 18, 2023.
- National Association of Realtors, “ Short Sales & Foreclosures .” Accessed May 18, 2023.
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, “ Foreclosure Process .” Accessed May 18, 2023.
