In uncertain economic times, many people find themselves unable to make their mortgage payments. This often leads to homeowners defaulting on their mortgage, and defaulting on a mortgage for a primary or secondary residence can have serious repercussions for the homeowner. The repercussions of defaulting vary by state and province and by country, and can affect a homeowner for years to come, so he or she must fully realize what defaulting on a mortgage means to financial security and status.

For instance, when you default on Spanish mortgages, 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 used to be true, especially for second residences or vacation homes. However, this is no longer the case, as Spanish banks can and will pursue non-residents to fulfill their mortgage obligations.

If you find yourself unable to avoid defaulting on your Spanish mortgage, the bank may agree to take the home back. Turning the home over to the bank will save you a lot of money, as the bank will not have court costs associated with pursuing you for the mortgage, and your interest will stop accruing sooner. 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. Any homeowners that can prove such a hardship to the bank will be even more likely to succeed in negotiating a turnover.

If the bank rejects a home turnover offer from the homeowner, he or she will need to try to sell the home quickly. You should try to get as much from the home sale as you can, as you will still be responsible to the bank for any shortfall between the home sale amount and the remaining amount on your Spanish mortgage. The bank will be most likely to aggressively pursue you for a large shortfall on the Spanish mortgage. But the bank can legally attempt to collect any amount from you. This means you may face liens on any assets you own, including your primary home and investments. This may take years to do, but the bank will not give up without getting their money.

Defaulting on a Spanish mortgage is an extremely serious situation, so it is essential that the homeowner work as closely as possible with the bank as soon as it is evident that defaulting is going to be unavoidable. 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.