Recourse and residential mortgage default: Evidence from US states

Andra C. Ghent, Marianna Kudlyak

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

190 Scopus citations

Abstract

We quantify the effect of recourse on default and find that recourse affects default by lowering the borrower's sensitivity to negative equity. At the mean value of the default option for defaulted loans, borrowers are 30% more likely to default in non-recourse states. Furthermore, for homes appraised at $500,000 to $750,000, borrowers are twice as likely to default in non-recourse states. We also find that defaults are more likely to occur through a lender-friendly procedure, such as a deed in lieu, in states that allow deficiency judgments. We find no evidence that mortgage interest rates are lower in recourse states.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3139-3186
Number of pages48
JournalReview of Financial Studies
Volume24
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 1 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Accounting
  • Finance
  • Economics and Econometrics

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