What If I Die Before My Overseas Mortgage Expires?
Thursday, October 29, 2020 @ 11:43 AM
A tough question but a common theme our team experience.
Demographically speaking, a majority of our clients are those of retirement age who purchased property during the boom period in Europe pre-2008. There have been multiple occasions where we have received enquiries from people who have advised their mortgage term will last long into their 80’s.
Firstly, this is evidence of “loose-lending” and pre-2008 many lenders did NOT follow proper protocol. Since then many Central Banks’ have become tighter and increased regulation on lending across Europe. Ask the question of how a Bank deems someone of retirement age able to repay a capital repayment mortgage? Madness.
What is most alarming, is that some clients do not know how they can continue to pay the mortgage! Nor, the implications of not paying and if they did die – put simply debt does not disappear.
Should a borrower pass away the debt does not go with them. Instead, it will be put into the deceased’s estate and may have implications in terms of potential inheritance for children, etc. No one would wish to leave this burden on their children.
Accordingly, this is NOT a matter to be avoided, we have solved troublesome mortgages of this type in Spain, Cyprus, Portugal, France & further afield.
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