
Full Answer
What's the difference between a recourse and nonrecourse loan?
What's the Difference Between a Recourse and Nonrecourse Loan?
- Recourse Loans: You're On the Hook for Any Remaining Debt After Foreclosure. With a recourse loan, the borrower is personally liable for the debt. ...
- Nonrecourse Loans: You're Off the Hook. ...
- Recourse or Nonrecourse Varies from State to State. ...
- Once a Deficiency Judgment is Obtained. ...
- Talk to a Lawyer. ...
What is the definition of a recourse loan?
The term recourse loan refers to a type of loan that can help a lender recoup its investment if a borrower fails to pay and the value of the underlying asset is not enough to cover it. A recourse loan is a form of secured financing.
What does recourse debt mean?
Recourse debt is a debt that is backed by collateral from the borrower. Also known as a recourse loan, this type of debt allows the lender to collect from the debtor and the debtor's assets in the case of default as opposed to foreclosing on a particular property or asset as with a home loan or auto loan.
Is recourse debt includable income?
Recourse debt is treated as ordinary income and included in gross income. Please let me know if you require further information or clarification. Thank you and best regards, Barb

What is the meaning of recourse debt?
A recourse debt holds the borrower personally liable. All other debt is considered nonrecourse. In general, recourse debt (loans) allows lenders to collect what is owed for the debt even after they've taken collateral (home, credit cards).
What are examples of recourse debt?
Secured debt like auto loans, and credit cards are examples of recourse debt. This means that when borrowers default, lenders can recover the balance with collateral. When the collateral isn't sufficient to cover the full outstanding loan balance, lenders can take it a step further to seize borrower assets.
What is an example of recourse?
Recourse is defined as a means of assistance or source of help during a difficult situation or conflict. When you call the police after your car has been stolen and turn to the police for help, this is an example of a situation where the police were your recourse.
Which is better recourse or nonrecourse?
Recourse loans are riskier for the borrower. Since recourse loans are less risky for lenders, they're usually offered at lower interest rates. Nonrecourse loans typically have higher interest rates. Nonrecourse loans are typically offered more to borrowers who have great credit and are in good financial standing.
Are credit cards considered recourse debt?
Common types of recourse debt are auto loans, credit cards and, in most states, home mortgages. In the case of default, the lender can seize and sell the collateral. If that collateral is not enough to cover the outstanding loan balance, the lender can then go after the borrower's other assets.
Are mortgages recourse debt?
Most mortgages are also recourse loans, but there are 12 states that allow nonrecourse mortgages. If a borrower defaults on a mortgage in one of those states, the lender will only be able to repossess the home and not any other assets or sources of income.
What is a recourse payment?
Recourse is the lender's legal right to collect the borrower's pledged collateral if the borrower does not pay their debt obligation. Full recourse means that in addition to the collateral the lender can also seize other assets from the borrower to repay the debt.
Is Accounts Payable a recourse debt?
Recourse Debt In a general partnership, this would usually be all of the partners, and would include all debt, even accounts payable.
What does it mean to have recourse to?
Definition of recourse 1a : a turning to someone or something for help or protection settled the matter without recourse to law. b : a source of help or strength : resort had no recourse left. 2 : the right to demand payment from the maker or endorser of a negotiable instrument (such as a check)
Can an LLC have recourse debt?
Because of the limited liability characteristic of LLCs, members generally do not bear any economic risk of loss with respect to LLC liabilities. However, loans made to the LLC or guaranteed by a member (or a member affiliate) generally are treated as recourse for the debt allocation rules.
What is considered non-recourse debt?
Non-recourse debt is a type of loan secured by collateral, which is usually property. If the borrower defaults, the issuer can seize the collateral but cannot seek out the borrower for any further compensation, even if the collateral does not cover the full value of the defaulted amount.
What is the difference between a recourse and a non-recourse loan?
A recourse loan is a loan where the lender can seize the collateral and other assets to recoup any losses. A non-recourse loan is one where the lender cannot seize more than the collateral offered.
What is considered recourse debt in a partnership?
A partnership liability is a recourse liability to the extent that any partner or a related person has an economic risk of loss for that liability. A partner's share of a recourse liability equals his economic risk of loss for that liability.
Is Accounts Payable a recourse debt?
Recourse Debt In a general partnership, this would usually be all of the partners, and would include all debt, even accounts payable.
What does recourse mean in banking?
Recourse is the lender's legal right to collect the borrower's pledged collateral if the borrower does not pay their debt obligation. Full recourse means that in addition to the collateral the lender can also seize other assets from the borrower to repay the debt.
Is a loan from a partner recourse debt?
Effects of Guarantees and Partner Loans As a result, under the Section 752 rules, any time a partner is the lending party, the partnership debt should be treated as a recourse liability – regardless of the nature of the debt or the type of entity — and allocated solely to the lending partner.
What Is Recourse Debt?
Small businesses looking to borrow money need to understand what’s at stake in the loan agreements they sign. There are two general types of loans available to small businesses: recourse loans and non-recourse loans. The primary difference between the two types relates to whether or not the borrower is personally liable for loan non-payment.
What does it mean when a business defaults on a recourse debt payment?
What does it mean if your business defaults on a recourse debt payment? It means that as the borrower, the business owner can be held personally liable for the debt if there is still money owing toward the loan after the lender has sold off the collateral. The lender can take you to court in an effort to secure further payment toward the loan through one of the following methods:
What Is Collateral?
Collateral is an asset, usually property, that a borrower offers a lender to secure a loan. If the borrower doesn’t make the debt repayments according to the terms of the loan agreement, the lender can seize the collateral to reclaim the money lost as a result of the debt nonpayment.
What happens if a partnership defaults on a loan?
That means that if the partnership defaults on its loan and the collateral offered doesn’t fully cover the outstanding debt , the lender can go after the personal assets of the partners.
What happens if a borrower defaults on a recourse loan?
If a borrower defaults on a recourse loan, the lender can collect what they’re owed toward the debt even after they’ve taken collateral from the debtor. If there is still an outstanding debt to be covered after the lender liquidates the collateral, the lender can go after the debtor’s other assets.
Can a lender go after a borrower's personal assets?
Beyond the collateral covered in the loan contract, the lender can go after the borrower’s personal assets if there is still a balance owing toward the debt after the sale of collateral. Recourse loans favor the lender, whereas non-recourse loans favor the borrower.
Can a lender go after a borrower?
But the lender can’t go after the borrower for further compensation, even if the value of the collateral doesn’t cover the full amount of debt owing. In this way, non-recourse loans favor the borrower. The IRS website offers more details on non-recourse debt.
What is recourse debt?
A recourse loan – alternatively known as recourse debt – is a type of loan that makes the borrower 100% liable for any outstanding balance. The loans require collateral. Collateral Collateral is an asset or property that an individual or entity offers to a lender as security for a loan.
Why do lenders give recourse loans?
It is the lender’s goal to get the borrower default so that they can go after the property. The lender pursues this course of action because they believe that they can acquire and sell the property for more than the original loan was worth.
What is non-recourse loan?
Non-recourse loans use only the asset involved as collateral. For example, mortgages#N#Mortgage A mortgage is a loan – provided by a mortgage lender or a bank – that enables an individual to purchase a home. While it’s possible to take out loans to cover the entire cost of a home, it’s more common to secure a loan for about 80% of the home’s value.#N#are traditionally non-recourse loans. They use only the home itself as collateral. This means that the lender can only seize the home itself if the borrower fails to repay the loan. The lender can’t go after personal bank accounts or any other asset that the individual owns in order to recover the sum of the loan.
How do lenders recover losses from defaulted loans?
Lenders can recover the loss from a defaulted loan by going after the borrower’s personal bank accounts and even their regular income.
What is real estate?
Real Estate Real estate is real property that consists of land and improvements, which include buildings, fixtures, roads, structures, and utility systems. Property rights give a title of ownership to the land, improvements, and natural resources such as minerals, plants, animals, water, etc. .
Can a lender get money back?
How Lenders Get Their Money Back. Len ders that provide recourse loans are allowed to go after a borrower’s personal, and sometimes company, bank accounts. They are also allowed – most of the time – to go after some of the ways a person earns an income, such as garnishing the individual’s wages until the debt is repaid.
Can a lender go after other assets?
If the market value of the asset is less than the loan amount, the lender can go after other assets of the borrower to make up for the additional loss. This is true even if the other assets were not used as collateral for the loan.
What Is Recourse Debt?from freshbooks.com
Small businesses looking to borrow money need to understand what’s at stake in the loan agreements they sign. There are two general types of loans available to small businesses: recourse loans and non-recourse loans. The primary difference between the two types relates to whether or not the borrower is personally liable for loan non-payment.
What does it mean when a business defaults on a recourse debt payment?from freshbooks.com
What does it mean if your business defaults on a recourse debt payment? It means that as the borrower, the business owner can be held personally liable for the debt if there is still money owing toward the loan after the lender has sold off the collateral. The lender can take you to court in an effort to secure further payment toward the loan through one of the following methods:
What Is Collateral?from freshbooks.com
Collateral is an asset, usually property, that a borrower offers a lender to secure a loan. If the borrower doesn’t make the debt repayments according to the terms of the loan agreement, the lender can seize the collateral to reclaim the money lost as a result of the debt nonpayment.
What happens if a partnership defaults on a loan?from freshbooks.com
That means that if the partnership defaults on its loan and the collateral offered doesn’t fully cover the outstanding debt , the lender can go after the personal assets of the partners.
Why is recourse important?from wallstreetmojo.com
It is important to understand the terms of the loan initially. Recourse debts favor the lender. Non-recourse debt favors the borrower. For the good creditworthy borrower, a recourse can be beneficial as he can enjoy a low-interest rate on the loan.
What happens if a borrower defaults on a recourse loan?from freshbooks.com
If a borrower defaults on a recourse loan, the lender can collect what they’re owed toward the debt even after they’ve taken collateral from the debtor. If there is still an outstanding debt to be covered after the lender liquidates the collateral, the lender can go after the debtor’s other assets.
Why do lenders give recourse loans?from corporatefinanceinstitute.com
It is the lender’s goal to get the borrower default so that they can go after the property. The lender pursues this course of action because they believe that they can acquire and sell the property for more than the original loan was worth.
What Is Recourse?
A recourse is a legal agreement that gives the lender the right to pledged collateral if the borrower is unable to satisfy the debt obligation. Recourse refers to the lender's legal right to collect. Recourse lending provides protection to lenders, as they are assured of having some repayment, either in cash or liquid assets. Companies that use recourse debt have a lower cost of capital, as there is less underlying risk in lending to that firm.
What happens if a borrower defaults on a recourse loan?
If a borrower defaults on a recourse loan, the lender might levy the borrower's bank accounts or garnish wages in order to repay the debt balance. A non-recourse loan, however, restricts the lender to claim only the specific asset pledged as collateral in the event of default.
What happens if a lender forgives a loan?
If the lender forgives the $25,000, the borrower must report this amount as ordinary income for tax purposes. If the debt is non-recourse, the forgiveness of the loan does not result in taxable cancellation ...
What is the right of a lender to collect a borrower's pledged collateral?
Recourse is the lender's legal right to collect the borrower’s pledged collateral if the borrower does not pay their debt obligation.
What is recourse language?
Most loans are issued with recourse language included in the loan document. The language specifies the recourse actions the lender may take along with any limitations. Generally, whether a loan is recourse or non-recourse depends on the state where the loan originated.
What is the more common form of debt?
Recourse debt is the more common form of debt because it is less risky for lenders. Non-recourse debt is usually limited to longer-term loans placed on stabilized and performing assets, such as commercial real estate.
Is a loan a recourse or non-recourse?
Generally, whether a loan is recourse or non-recourse depends on the state where the loan originated. Most states provide for recourse for mortgage lenders, but it may be restricted in some way. For example, in some states, the deficiency judgment the lender can obtain against the borrower cannot exceed the fair market value (FMV) of the property.
What Is Limited Recourse Debt?
Limited recourse debt is a debt in which the creditor has limited claims on the loan if the borrower defaults. Limited recourse debt sits in between secured debt and unsecured debt in terms of the backing behind the loan. Limited recourse debt is also referred to as partial recourse debt.
Can a power plant be a non-recourse loan?
Once the power plant is complete, the loan can switch from a limited recourse loan to a non-recourse loan, where the creditor no longer has any claim on assets. This is so because the risk of the project has significantly decreased now that the plant is in operation and generating cash flow that can be used to furnish the debt.
Definition and Examples of Limited Recourse Debt
Limited recourse debt is a type of debt where collateral secures the loan. This collateral is outlined in the loan agreement and the lender can only take that collateral in the case of nonpayment. It can’t seize any other assets that belong to the borrower, even if the collateral doesn’t cover the debt.
How Limited Recourse Debt Works
With limited recourse debt, the borrower and lender agree that certain assets will serve as collateral. Those assets will guarantee the loan. They will be listed in the loan agreement, which also specifies that the debt is limited recourse debt.
Alternatives to Limited Recourse Debt
Full recourse debt and nonrecourse debt are both alternatives to limited recourse debt.
What is recourse debt?
When a lender is given recourse rights in a borrowing arrangement, it means that the lender can pursue repayment of the debt from the borrower by seizing designated borrower assets. Thus, recourse debt refers to an agreement where the lender can attach borrower assets, while non-recourse debt refers to an agreement where the lender cannot do so ...
What is the difference between recourse and non-recourse?
The difference between recourse and non-recourse debt is the ability of the lender to take the assets of the borrower if the debt is not paid. Non-recourse debt favors the borrower, while recourse debt favors the lender. When a lender is given recourse rights in a borrowing arrangement, it means that the lender can pursue repayment ...
Can a lender impose a recourse debt agreement?
A lender is most able to impose a recourse debt agreement on a borrower when the borrower is unable to obtain financing elsewhere on better terms, and especially when the borrower is in difficult financial circumstances. Conversely, a borrower may be able to demand non-recourse debt terms if it can select from many lenders ...
Can a borrower demand non-recourse terms?
Conversely, a borrower may be able to demand non-recourse debt terms if it can select from many lenders and has such excellent financial results and asset reserves that it can justify its demands.
Can a lender grant less credit under a non-recourse agreement?
Consequently, some borrowers are more willing to accept recourse terms in exchange for a reduced interest rate and/or other, more lenient borrowing terms. Alternatively, a lender may be willing to grant less credit under a non-recourse agreement, usually only up to the amount of any collateral posted against the note.
What Is Non-Recourse Debt?
Non-recourse debt is a type of loan secured by collateral, which is usually property. If the borrower defaults, the issuer can seize the collateral but cannot seek out the borrower for any further compensation, even if the collateral does not cover the full value of the defaulted amount. This is one instance where the borrower does not have personal liability for the loan.
What happens if a debt is non-recourse?
If the debt is non-recourse, the lender may liquidate the collateral but may not attempt to collect the deficiency balance. With non-recourse debt, the creditor's only protection against borrower default is the ability to seize the collateral and liquidate it to cover the debt owed.
What happens to a car loan if it is a non-recourse loan?
In the event it is a non-recourse loan, the lender forfeits this sum.
What is the loan to value ratio for non-recourse loans?
Loan-to-value ratios are usually limited to 60% in non-recourse loans. Recourse debt allows the lender to go after the borrower for any balance that remains after liquidating the collateral. For this reason, lenders charge higher interest rates on non-recourse debt to compensate for the elevated risk.
Why do lenders charge higher interest rates on non-recourse debt?
Lenders charge higher interest rates on non-recourse debt to compensate for the elevated risk (i.e., the collateral's value dipping below the amount owed on the loan). Non-recourse debt is characterized by high capital expenditures, long loan periods, and uncertain revenue streams.
Is non-recourse debt riskier than recourse debt?
Because in many cases the resale value of the collateral can dip below the loan balance over the course of the loan, non-recourse debt is riskier to the lender than recourse debt.
What is recourse debt?
However, a recourse debt gives the lender the recourse to pursue additional assets of the borrower beyond the value of the collateral if it is necessary to recoup its losses on the loan.
What happens if you fail to pay off a non-recourse debt?
Failure to pay off a non-recourse debt still has its penalties, including loss of the collateral and damage to the borrower's credit score.
What happens if a borrower fails to pay their loan?
If the borrower fails to live up to their obligation and default on the payment schedule, the lender can go after the borrower's other assets or sue to have his or her wages garnished —anything so that the loan can be made whole again.
What is a non-recourse loan?
Recourse and non-recourse loans allow lenders to lay claim to assets if borrowers default on their obligations and fail to repay their debts. Lenders are allowed to take possession of any assets used as collateral to secure these loans. Many loans are taken out with one or more assets of a certain value that the lender can take if the borrower does not fulfill their obligation as outlined in the loan agreement. 1
Why are recourse loans more powerful?
Recourse loans give lenders a higher degree of power because they have fewer limits on what assets lenders can claim against for loan repayment. From the lender's point of view, a recourse loan reduces the perceived risk associated with less creditworthy borrowers.
Why is credit tighter?
And because credit is harder to come by during these times, borrowers are usually more willing to restrictive terms including giving up access to their assets.
Can a lender write off collateral?
Seizing assets is a time-consuming and expensive process, and a lender may write off a loss rather than continue to pursue it. 3

Example of A Recourse Loan
- Let’s say that a small tech repair business owner decides to expand and stop working out of his home. He takes out a recourse loan for $750,000 to purchase a property that he can work out of. Within the first year, his business falters under the weight of outstanding debts. He tries to sell the property, but the building is now worth only about $600,000 because of a decline in the market. …
How Lenders Get Their Money Back
- Lenders that provide recourse loans are allowed to go after a borrower’s personal, and sometimes company, bank accounts. They are also allowed – most of the time – to go after some of the ways a person earns an income, such as garnishing the individual’s wages until the debt is repaid. The lender may also be able to make money from the individual’s commissions, bonuses, and ev…
Recourse Loans vs. Non-Recourse Loans
- Non-recourse loans use only the asset involved as collateral. For example, mortgagesare traditionally non-recourse loans. They use only the home itself as collateral. It means that the lender can only seize the home itself if the borrower fails to repay the loan. The lender can’t go after personal bank accounts or any other asset that the individua...
More Resources
- Thank you for reading CFI’s guide to Recourse Loan. To keep learning and developing your knowledge of financial analysis, we highly recommend the additional CFI resources below: 1. Credit Event 2. Debt Capacity 3. Loan Covenant 4. Private Money Loan
What Is Recourse?
Understanding Recourse
Recourse vs. Non-Recourse
Tax Impact of Recourse on Borrowers
Special Considerations
Example of Recourse
What Is a Non-Recourse Loan?
What Recourse Do I Have Against a Home Builder?
What Is Recourse Debt in a Partnership?
What Is Limited Recourse Debt?
- Recourse debt means that a lender can go after other assets of a borrower if the pledged collateral isn't sufficient enough to cover the outstanding debt that the borrower cannot pay. Recourse debt can be full or limited. Limited recourse debt means there is a limit to what assets a lender can seize in order to cover the outstanding loan. The asset...
What Is Full-Recourse Debt?