A secured debt is a debt in which the creditor maintains a security interest in an item or piece of personal property such as a house, automobile, boats, etc. With secured debts, if you fall behind on payments, the lender can repossess the property that originally secured the debt. An additional drawback to secured debt is the fact that you may remain liable for the deficiency balance owing on the debt after your property has been repossessed and sold. However, the laws vary from state to state.
Unsecured debt is debt in which you borrow from a creditor to obtain goods or services on credit in exchange for your promise to repay the debt. The primary difference between secured and unsecured debt is that unsecured debt is not collateralized by personal property. Unsecured debt is commonly given in the form of credit card debt, commercial debt, medical debt, automobile repossessions, utility collections, and some personal loans. In many cases, these accounts can be successfully resolved through a debt resolution program.