What can be a consequence of failing to repay a mortgage?

Failing to repay a mortgage can lead to serious financial consequences, one of which is the loss of the home due to foreclosure. When homeowners are unable to make their mortgage payments, the lender has the legal right to initiate foreclosure proceedings. This means that the lender can take possession of the property to recover the unpaid loan amount. Foreclosure not only results in losing the home but also carries long-term implications for the borrower's financial standing and credit history.

In contrast, options such as increased home equity or improved credit scores do not occur when mortgage payments are missed; rather, the opposite is true. Defaulting on mortgage payments typically results in a decrease in home equity because equity is built through consistent payment and increases in property value. Additionally, missing payments negatively impacts credit scores, making future borrowing more difficult and expensive. Therefore, the most direct and significant consequence of failing to repay a mortgage is indeed the risk of foreclosure.