Learn how recourse and non-recourse loans differ, their benefits and risks, and impact on your financial choices.

A “debt” arises by virtue of the receipt of money or acquisition of property by an individual who has a corresponding obligation to repay the creditor/lender in money or money’s worth. The terms ...

Julia Kagan is a financial/consumer journalist and former senior editor, personal finance, of Investopedia. A recourse is a legal agreement that gives the lender the right to pledged collateral if the ...

A non-recourse loan is a type of debt that’s secured by collateral, such as an individual’s car, house or another typically illiquid asset. By securing a non-recourse loan, the lender won’t have the ...

Americans have a lot of debt. According to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, total household debt as of the second quarter of 2025 amounts to $18.4 trillion, largely made up of ...