[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e7dff3″ custom_padding=”0px||90px|||” bottom_divider_style=”ramp2″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ header_2_font_size=”30px” custom_padding=”||16px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
By Jordan Evans<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row module_class=”custom_row” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ module_class=”vertical-align second-on-mobile” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n A lot of people ask us the question,\u00a0\u201cCan you\u00a0file for bankruptcy<\/a>\u00a0and keep your house?\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0The answer depends on how much equity you have in your home (except for Quebec). Most of the time, we think of equity as how much of our house we own after our mortgage(s) is subtracted. For example, if your home is valued at $250,000 and your mortgage is $200,000, then you have $50,000 of equity in your home.<\/p>\n The amount of equity a licensed insolvency trustee (bankruptcy trustee) will work with when determining if you can go bankrupt and still keep your home or not, is a net equity calculation. They will take the value of your home, subtract what you owe, deduct all of the costs that would come with selling your home, and then use that net equity amount to determine where you stand.<\/p>\n If the net equity amount is above the provincial exemption maximum, you have the choice of either selling your home or \u2018buying back\u2019 the amount above the exemption limit. If you can afford to buy back the excess amount, you pay it to your trustee in addition to any\u00a0surplus income<\/a>\u00a0amount (if applicable). Your buy back amount becomes part of your bankruptcy estate and it is eventually distributed to your creditors.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”||120px|||” bottom_divider_style=”curve2″ bottom_divider_color=”#E4F8E0″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n The amount of net equity you\u2019re allowed to have to\u00a0keep your home and still go bankrupt\u00a0<\/strong>depends on which province you live in. Here\u2019s what the exemption limits are:<\/p>\n Alberta<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019re permitted to have up to $40,000 in equity if you completely own your home. If you are a co-owner, then the equity you\u2019re permitted is reduced proportionately by the percentage of the home that you own. So if you\u2019re 50% owner, your equity exemption would be $20,000. If you\u2019re a 33.3% owner, then your equity exemption would be $13,320.<\/p>\n British Columbia<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019re allowed to have $12,000 in equity in Vancouver and Victoria, but only $9,000 all other areas of the province.<\/p>\n Manitoba<\/strong><\/p>\n You can have up to $1,500 in equity if you jointly own the home with someone else. If you are the sole owner of the home, you\u2019re allowed to have up to $2,500 in equity.<\/p>\n Ontario<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019re permitted to have up to $10,000 equity in your principal residence.<\/p>\n Saskatchewan<\/strong><\/p>\n You\u2019re allowed up to $50,000 equity in your active residence per owner on title (and this could even be a trailer). Unsecured creditors also cannot force the sale of your home.<\/p>\n Quebec<\/strong><\/p>\n Unlike in other provinces, there is no amount of equity in your home that is exempt from bankruptcy. However, your main residence is considered unseizeable if the claim against you is for less than $20,000 (with some exceptions). <\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ next_background_color=”#ffffff” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e4f8e0″ custom_padding=”||125px|||” bottom_divider_style=”curve2″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n So using Ontario as an example calculation, if you live in Ontario with a house worth $250,000 and your mortgage is $245,000, then you get to keep your home because you only have $5,000 in equity ($250,000 home value – $245,000 mortgage value = $5,000 in equity) and the province allows you have up to $10,000 in net home equity and still keep your home. The $5,000 of equity would become even less once potential selling costs are subtracted.<\/p>\n However, if your home is worth $250,000 and your mortgage is at $200,000, then you would have to either buy out the surplus or sell your home to pay your creditors with the proceeds because your net equity would still be over the $10,000 limit ($50,000 less costs associated with selling, which vary).<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#ffffff” custom_padding=”||120px|||” bottom_divider_style=”ramp2″ bottom_divider_color=”#E7DFF3″ da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n A lot of people don\u2019t realize that there are good\u00a0alternatives to bankruptcy<\/a>. From different kinds of debt consolidation to debt repayment plans, debt management programs, debt settlements, and consumer proposals \u2013 regardless of how bad your situation may seem, it is worth considering all of the ways you can deal with your debts before you make a decision. For many people,\u00a0bankruptcy is not a viable first option<\/a>. To help you understand all of your options and alternatives, one of our professional credit counsellors would be happy to take an objective look your financial situation and provide you with information about what could work for you.[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” background_color=”#e7dff3″ custom_padding=”||110px|||” bottom_divider_style=”curve2″ bottom_divider_color=”#5b25af” da_disable_devices=”off|off|off” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” da_is_popup=”off” da_exit_intent=”off” da_has_close=”on” da_alt_close=”off” da_dark_close=”off” da_not_modal=”on” da_is_singular=”off” da_with_loader=”off” da_has_shadow=”on”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.2″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n Between financial trouble and\u00a0declaring bankruptcy<\/strong>, there are\u00a0debt relief options that most Canadians have never heard of<\/a>. Finding ways to\u00a0keep your house<\/strong>, if at all possible, is important. It\u2019s your home and having to move makes a difficult situation that much harder. Our credit counsellors specialize in helping you explore all of the options to figure out what will work best for you to get you back on track as quickly as possible, while not jeopardizing your long-term goals entirely.<\/p>\n If you\u2019d like to explore your\u00a0debt relief<\/strong>\u00a0options, get some guidance and information, and see what\u2019s available to you, get in touch with us today by toll free phone at\u00a01-888-527-8999<\/a>,\u00a0email<\/a>, or\u00a0anonymous online chat<\/a>. Our help is free, completely confidential, and judgement free. We’re here for you and ready to help.<\/p>\n Last Updated on January 17, 2025 <\/span>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" If your home equity is above the provincial exemption maximum, you can either sell your home or \u2018buy back\u2019 the amount above the exemption.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":11694,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15344","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bankruptcy"],"yoast_head":"\nThe Provincial Exemption Limits for Keeping Your House When Going Bankrupt<\/h2>\n
How Provincial Exemptions Can Impact Your Home in Bankruptcy
\nExample Calculations<\/span><\/h2>\nThere are Good Alternatives to Bankruptcy<\/h2>\n
Get Help to Consider Debt Relief Options and If You Can Keep Your House in Bankruptcy<\/h3>\n