If you are like many people today, you may be having trouble making ends meet or are living paycheck to paycheck. Whether the mortgage is on a primary residence or vacation home, defaulting on a mortgage can have serious consequences for the homeowner. These consequences vary by country and can even vary by state or province within the same country, so it is important to understand them fully.

For instance, when you default on mortgages in Spain, there are certain consequences. If you are not a Spanish citizen but own a home in Spain, you may think its still possible to easily walk away from the mortgage with no consequences whatsoever. This was especially true if the homeowner was not a Spanish citizen and the home was a vacation home or second residence. However, this is no longer the case, as Spanish banks can and will pursue non-residents to fulfill their mortgage obligations.

One option you have when you default on your Spanish mortgage is to turn over the home to the bank. This option will save you money in court costs incurred by the bank when pursuing you for the balance, as well as additional interest on the mortgage during the court battle. You cant just turn the keys over to the bank without arranging it, however. The bank is under no obligation to let you out of the mortgage by taking the home back. Homeowners that have a true hardship as a reason for defaulting on a Spanish mortgage will likely be more successful in negotiating a home turnover. An example of such a hardship would be the death of a spouse or another situation that has caused your income to be drastically cut.

If you cannot negotiate a home turnover with the bank that holds your Spanish mortgage, you will need to sell the home as soon as possible. Try to get a final sale price that will cover the remaining amount on your Spanish mortgage or one that will come as close as possible to paying it off, as the bank will still expect the full amount from you in any case. They are more likely to do so if the shortfall is large. They will attempt to collect the remaining amount they are owed in any legal way they can. The bank may collect money by placing liens on any and all assets of the homeowner..

If you must default on your Spanish mortgage, it is vital that you contact the bank as soon as possible to work with them. Doing so can result in an agreement that will satisfy the bank, relieve you of your responsibilities associated with the Spanish mortgage, and allow you to keep other assets you may own.