Negative equity advice

Folks I appreciate any advice you can give me on my current situation.

Basically we bought our home about three years ago and we had to go sub-prime with stepstone. At the time we were told that if we kept clean for a year or so we would have no problems going prime with another lender.

So stupidly we took the mortgage which cost 1970 a month, we struggled for about two years borrowing other money to actually pay the mortgage and were told that no banks would take on sub-prime lenders in the current climate. Since then we have been paying roughly 700 or whatever we could afford as the debt mounted.

I had called stepstone many times asking was there anything they could do to help any when I did manage to get some sort of a reply the answer was always no. Now I have arrears of 15,000 and my mortgage has gone up to 300,000.

Also, in the last two years we have developed serious problems with two nieghbours who are sisters. We have had every phone call (social services, local authorities etc.) made on us, are intimidated daily, and have had numerous garda visits etc. etc. All of this damaging the mental health of ourselves and our children.

So at this point I have put the house up for sale for 250,000 and am prepared to go to the bank tomorrow and give the keys back (voluntary) as we cannot take it anymore.

Has anybody sound advice for us as we have to leave here and I am sick with worry about the 50K plus that I am going to be stuck with.

Any advice would be helpful.

Re: Nightmare Situation

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Hi ThomasK,
First of all, sorry for your trouble. You might get posters telling you it was your own fault for taking the mortgage, but it was an easy trap to fall into and thousands are in the same boat. I don't think 'handing back the keys' will solve your problems as the bank will ad the legal costs to your debt and sell the property, you will still be liable for the remaining debt. I think you're first port of call is to contact MABS and make an appointment to see them. They will go through your budget and make representation to springboard and see if there is anyway you can keep your house. Once you do that you can tackle the social problems in the area, but don't try do it all at once as you'll just feel swamped. Best of luck


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