Here is a list of common short sale FAQs and a tip on how to get an immediate offer on any short sale property
What is a short sale?
A short sale is when your Lien Holder agree to accept less than you owe in order for you to sell your home. They agree to a discount of the mortgage debt owed.
Why do lenders or banks accept discounts?
A Lender or bank takes a discount or agrees a short sale because it saves them money. It clears bad debt off the books. This allows them to reinvest that money by giving out another loan to a customer. Lender lose and average of $40,000 to $70,000 on each property that they take back as a bank owned property.
In many cases a short sale is necessary in order to get you out from under your mortgage debt. By doing a short sale, you will be able to take a large bite out of the money you owe to your mortgage company, so that you are no longer liable for the entire amount.
Who qualifies for a short sale?
Most everyone who has a true financial hardship qualifies for a short sale. However, each Lender and Loan Type has a different set of requirements specific to them. The general requirements for a seller to qualify for a short sale are:
- Legitimate financial hardship
- Behind on mortgage payments or facing imminent default
- No equity – Owe more than property is worth
- No liquid assets such as investment accounts, mutual funds, etc.
How do I know what type of loan I have?
Knowing what type of loan you have is crucial to the process. There are specific short sale requirements and guidelines that are unique to each loan type. You can find out what type of loan you have by calling your lender.
You can also go to the Making Home Affordable Government website to lookup you loan.
How will a short sale impact my credit score?
This is different in each case. Sometimes the most credit damage comes from many months of missed payments. Each missed payment is another negative mark on the credit score. These missed payments can add up to a larger drop on your credit score than the actual short sale. This is why it’s very important to complete the transaction in a timely manner.
How can I get an immediate offer on my short sale?
In most cases buyers avoid short sales. So it often makes sense to look to real estate investors to make an offer on your short sale.
You can search for a real estate investor who may want to make an immediate offer. In this case you may not have to list for months and damage your credit score even more.
Jump on your computer and search for investors on the internet. It isn’t hard to find them.Search terms like “foreclosure”, “real estate”, and “short sale” with your city or state. For example, use your state and search Arizona Short Sale for and investor such as Sandp-Properties.com. Or use your city like San Antonio Short Sale and Las Vegas Short Sale and you’ll see investors in Texas such as ShortSalesTX.com and Nevada such as Mylvshortsales.com.
This is an unconventional approach. And working with an investor may even result in a lower offer than you expect. However, if the homeowners goal is to avoid foreclosure than an investor offer may just be the answer.
