foreclosure

noun
fore·​clo·​sure | \ (ˌ)fȯr-ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce foreclosure (audio) \

Definition of foreclosure

: an act or instance of foreclosing specifically : a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's right of redeeming a mortgaged estate

Examples of foreclosure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It was characterized by foreclosures and long-term unemployment. Janna Herron, USA TODAY, "What could the next recession feel like? Stories from past downturns are a guide," 23 Aug. 2019 Presumably, the administration isn’t considering foreclosure. Peter Baker, New York Times, "Trump’s Interest in Buying Greenland Seemed Like a Joke. Then It Got Ugly.," 21 Aug. 2019 And while fewer foreclosures are good, there are still too many for anyone’s comfort. John Gallagher, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit can't cherry-pick statistics, ignore inconvenient facts," 21 Aug. 2019 The current foreclosure process is the result of a private lien holder that dates back to 2015. Caitlin O'kane, CBS News, "New Jersey man with special needs nearly loses home until neighbors raise $50,000 to save it," 5 Aug. 2019 In October 2018 the property went under foreclosure, according to court records. Paul Daugherty, Cincinnati.com, "Doc's Morning Line: The Curse of Max Montoya is alive and well for the Cincinnati Bengals," 24 July 2019 CoreLogic found that the foreclosure crisis pushed former owners into rental housing, while first-time buyers delayed entering the home market. Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "Hot housing market has fueled economic expansion—and inequality," 18 July 2019 In Houston, the July after Harvey saw a 76 percent spike in foreclosure starts compared to the year before, according to property data company Attom. R.a. Schuetz, Houston Chronicle, "Two years after Harvey, many are still behind on mortgages," 9 July 2019 But the scandal undermined the program’s credibility at the height of the foreclosure crisis — just as its mission was needed the most. Tim Evans, Indianapolis Star, "5 housing schemes that dragged down Indianapolis neighborhoods," 28 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'foreclosure.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of foreclosure

1713, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for foreclosure

foreclosure

noun

Financial Definition of foreclosure

What It Is

Foreclosure occurs when a lender seizes and sells a borrower's collateral after the borrower has failed to repay the lender. The term is most often associated with real estate.

How It Works

In general, there are eight events involved in a foreclosure (in this example, we assume the borrower has obtained a mortgage for a house from the lender).

1. The borrower signs a contract agreeing to repay the lender over a period of time, usually in predetermined installments.
2. The borrower misses one or more payments.
3. The lender sends the borrower one or more notices of delinquency.
4. The borrower and the lender try to adjust the repayment schedule so that the borrower is more likely to make at least some of the payments until he or she gets back on his feet. (This process is called special forbearance or mortgage modification.)
5. The borrower misses additional payments.
6. The lender sends the borrower a notice of default and initiates foreclosure proceedings.

A) In a judicial foreclosure, a court confirms the amount owed to the lender and gives the borrower a set amount of time to pay up ("cure the default").
B) In a nonjudicial foreclosure, the loan document authorizes the lender to sell the property to recover the loan balance.
7. The lender puts the property up for sale and publishes a notice of the sale in the local paper. The notice includes a description of the property, the name of the borrower, and other information. The borrower might file Chapter 13 bankruptcy to stop the foreclosure temporarily.
8. A public auction occurs during business hours, and the highest bidder is usually entitled to buy the property. At that point, the borrower cannot get the property back unless he or she buys it back.

Why It Matters

The foreclosure process can take several months, if not years, and it does long-term damage to a person's credit report. It is important to note that foreclosure laws vary by state, and they affect the order or duration of these steps. It is also important to note that the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act affects foreclosure proceedings by stipulating the methods lenders can use to go after bad debts.

[Click here to read Seven Ways to Stop a Foreclosure on Your Home]

Source: Investing Answers

foreclosure

noun
fore·​clos·​ure | \ fōr-ˈklō-zhər How to pronounce foreclosure (audio) \

Legal Definition of foreclosure

1 : a legal proceeding that bars or extinguishes a mortgagor's equity of redemption in mortgaged real property — see also deficiency judgment at judgment, redeem, right of redemption, statutory foreclosure, strict foreclosure sense 1
2 : the extinguishment (as under the provisions of Article 9 of the Uniform Commercial Code) of the rights of a debtor in personal property subject to a security interest by judicial proceedings and especially by judicial sale — see also strict foreclosure sense 2

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