Debt assumption (2024)

Term:

Debt assumption

Definition:

Debt assumption is a special form of debt refinancing, involving three parties—the creditor, the original debtor, and a new debtor who assumes the debt obligation.
A debt assumption involves two simultaneous transactions; the first transaction cancels the original debtor’s obligation, and the second transaction creates a new debt contract between the creditor and the new debtor, or assumer.
The first transaction is classified as a capital transfer (as in the case of debt forgiveness), and the second transaction involves the creditor’s acquisition of the new debt instrument issued by the assumer. Any write-down of asset value by the creditor is recorded in the revaluation account.

Domain:

Finance

Source:

Monetary and Financial Statistics Manual, IMF, Washington, 2000, para. 211

Debt assumption (2024)

FAQs

What is a debt assumption? ›

Definition: Debt assumption is a special form of debt refinancing, involving three parties—the creditor, the original debtor, and a new debtor who assumes the debt obligation.

What does it mean when debt is assumed? ›

Meaning of assumed debt in English

debt that a company agrees to take responsibility for when it buys another company: They acquired the newspaper group for $4 billion in cash and assumed debt to boost their US presence.

What is the debt assumption plan? ›

Summary: Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton has proposed that the national government assume responsibility for paying the debts of all 13 states as well as the debts of the national government. This is called the “Assumption” plan.

What is the assumption of debt in an acquisition? ›

Courts have found intent to as- sume debt when the purchaser's officers or other representatives are aware of the liability, when the purchaser continues a business re- lationship with the seller's creditor, and where the seller's creditor relied on the purchaser's conduct and words that indicated the assump- tion of ...

Does loan assumption hurt your credit? ›

In a simple assumption, the seller remains liable for the outstanding mortgage debt. If the buyer defaults on payments, both parties' credit scores are affected. This shared risk can strain the relationship between buyer and seller and lead to financial repercussions for both.

Is loan assumption a good idea? ›

With a lower interest rate, you'll save thousands of dollars in interest over the life of the loan. In many cases, the closing costs on an assumed mortgage are lower than they'd be on a conventional loan — an appraisal is typically not required, and the FHA, VA and USDA place caps on some fees for assumed loans.

What is the law of assumption debt? ›

Documenting that the Debt Assumption Clause is one of several Constitutional indicators of the Founders', specifically Hamilton's, belief that the new national government should service public debt and establish sound credit.

Can someone assume your debt? ›

An assumable mortgage is a type of home financing arrangement where an outstanding mortgage and its terms are transferred from the current owner to the buyer. By assuming the previous owner's remaining debt, the buyer can avoid obtaining their own mortgage.

What is the agreement to assume debt? ›

This type of agreement transfers the obligations of one party under a contract to another party. Imagine you want to sell your business but have outstanding debts that need to be paid. The buyer of your business agrees to assume those debts and pay them, along with owning the business.

What does assume the debts mean? ›

Assumed debt. A debt obligation of an acquired company that becomes an obligation of the acquirer.

How do you assume cost of debt? ›

To find your total interest, multiply each loan by its interest rate, then add those numbers together. To calculate your total debt, add up all your loans. Then, divide total interest by total debt to get your cost of debt. The cost of debt you just calculated is also your weighted average interest rate.

Why was the Assumption plan controversial? ›

Hamilton countered that government debts must be honored in full, or else citizens would lose all trust in the government. Second, many southerners objected that they had already paid their outstanding state debts, so federal assumption would mean forcing them to pay again for the debts of New Englanders.

What is an assumption of existing debt? ›

A home loan assumption allows you as the buyer to accept responsibility for an existing debt secured by a mortgage on the home you're buying. The two processes available to suit your needs are Qualified Assumptions, and the Name Change and Title Transfer Requests.

Do you assume the debt when you buy a business? ›

Most of the time, if the purchase of a business is handled properly, the seller will have to disclose all known liabilities and debts of a business. But even if the seller doesn't disclose a debt, it doesn't mean that the debt is invalid, or that your newly purchased business doesn't have to pay the debt.

What is an assumption of debt letter? ›

A Debt Assignment and Assumption Agreement is a very simple document whereby one party assigns their debt to another party, and the other party agrees to take that debt on. The party that is assigning the debt is the original debtor; they are called the assignor.

What does assumption mean in a loan? ›

A Loan Assumption occurs when a purchaser of a property assumes the existing mortgage loan debt of the original customer (who is now “selling” the home and loan debt to the new buyer). Loan assumptions must be approved by the lender.

What does it mean to assume someone's debt? ›

"Consideration" means recompense or payment which includes anything of value to the parties to a sale. Consideration is not limited to cash. Assumption of debt is a for of consideration. So therefore, we you assume someone else's loan or get a loan for yourself to pay for the vehicle, it creates a taxable event.

What is an example of a loan assumption? ›

For example, let's say that you are buying a home for $350,000, and assuming a loan with a $250,000 principal balance. This means that you will need to make a $100,000 down payment in order to buy the home. Some homebuyers are able to finance part of this payment.

What does it mean to assume existing debt? ›

An assumable mortgage is a type of home financing arrangement where an outstanding mortgage and its terms are transferred from the current owner to the buyer. By assuming the previous owner's remaining debt, the buyer can avoid obtaining their own mortgage.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Last Updated:

Views: 6248

Rating: 4.6 / 5 (46 voted)

Reviews: 85% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Gov. Deandrea McKenzie

Birthday: 2001-01-17

Address: Suite 769 2454 Marsha Coves, Debbieton, MS 95002

Phone: +813077629322

Job: Real-Estate Executive

Hobby: Archery, Metal detecting, Kitesurfing, Genealogy, Kitesurfing, Calligraphy, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Gov. Deandrea McKenzie, I am a spotless, clean, glamorous, sparkling, adventurous, nice, brainy person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.