In uncertain economic times, many people find themselves unable to make their mortgage payments. 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 state, province, and country, so you must be sure to completely understand them.

There are specific repercussions involved in defaulting on a Spanish mortgage. In past years, it was possible to default on a Spanish mortgage with little to no loss at all to the homeowner. This used to be true, especially for second residences or vacation homes. But now Spanish mortgage holders can and do pursue every legal means necessary to collect on their mortgages.

In case a homeowner must default on a mortgage in Spain, turning over the home to the bank is often an option. 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. But although this is an option, it must first be discussed with the bank. The bank can to agree to accept the home back, but they do not have to. 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. The homeowner must sell the home for as much as possible, as the bank that holds the Spanish mortgage will come after him or her for any amount remaining on the loan after the home sale proceeds are paid to the bank. 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. 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.

If you must default on your Spanish mortgage, it is vital that you contact the bank as soon as possible to work with them. Showing a willingness to work with the bank can allow a homeowner to walk away from a Spanish mortgage with as little financial cost as possible and still retain full ownership of all his or her other assets.