It's a write-down for the lender (To be used to set off profits on the current balance sheet, but ultimately passed along to consumers) unless it was a Federally-insured mortgage, in which case it's the taxpayers that pay the freight in the end. And yes, it is surprisingly easy to get credit again after a bankruptcy (With a substantial risk premium in the interest rate), because the lenders know you can't pull that crap on them again for seven years.