5 Reasons to Chose a Short Sale

When you are struggling financially it is hard to know where to go.   Often times you feel helpless and want to just give up.  That is completely understandable!  I know that feeling!  I have been there.  If you are considering walking away from your property think about these 5 reasons to chose a short sale over a foreclosure.

1.  Your credit will be affected more with a foreclosure than with a short sale.

Unfortunately, either way your credit will take a hit.  Both foreclosures and short sales will show on your report for 7 years.  A short sale will be listed as “settled for less than the full amount due” on your credit report.  A foreclosure will be listed as a foreclosure. The waiting time to purchase a home after a short sale can be as little as three years while a foreclosure can often be up to seven years.

2.  You may be eligible for incentives to help with relocation.

Some lenders do not give these options but many do.  I find that around 75% of my clients receive incentives.  The wonderful thing about these incentives is that sometimes they can also be used to pay off liens that need to be cleared before the sale of the property.  It is important to remember that in order to quality for these incentives you need to still be living in the home.

3.  You have more time to relocate.

A short sale can give you more time to find a place and move.  It is not unusual for it to take over three months.  Once a foreclosure notice is filed you will have a set amount of time to be out of your house, usually around a month.  If you do have a foreclosure notice, often there is still time to do a short sale.

 

4.  It will most likely give you a fresh start.

In order to sell your property in a short sale, all liens on the property will need to be released.  This can be done by paying it off, paying it off with the relocation incentive or re-negotiation of the debt.  While there are some exceptions most of the time you will receive a release of liability and will not have a deficiency judgement for the outstanding loan amount.

5.  You can avoid the stigma of a foreclosure.

To the outside world a short sale looks like any other real estate transaction.  Most short

sales need to be designated as such in the MLS.  In the Kansas City area we are required to put it in agent remarks.  The agent will see it and might share with their client but the general public will not have knowledge of the the short sale status.

The decision to short sale you home can be an emotional one.  It is important to meet with a short sale specialist to get all the facts.  Once you have a strong understanding of the process you can make an educated decision.

 

The Foreclosure Process

Foreclosure:  the action of taking possession of a mortgaged property when the mortgagor fails to keep up their mortgage payments.

Sometimes, even with the best efforts, a home can go into foreclosure.  Your lender can begin the foreclosure process after you have fallen 90 days behind on the mortgage.  One of the first letters you will receive is a Notice of Default.  That means the lender is taking the appropriate steps to foreclose.

Once you receive the Notice of Default you will have 90 days to repay what you owe.  If you cannot or do not repay the default you will next receive the Notice of Sale.  Also known as the Notice of Trustee, this letter will advise you of the lenders intent to sell the property.  The date will usually be set for 21-30 days after the notice.

The notice will also be published in local newspapers, county websites and often on an auction site.  At this point you might still be able pull the home out of foreclosure by paying the amount owed plus legal fees.   Often times you will need to do so a week to 5 days before the auction.

The foreclosure process can vary state by state.  Many states require the bank to go through the courts in what is called a Judicial Foreclosure.  The mortgage company will file a lawsuit asking the court to grant a judgement, allowing them to sell the home.  As the borrower you can fight this lawsuit.  If you do not show up the judgement will usually be granted.

Some state, like the state of Missouri, have Non-Judicial Foreclosures.  At the time of purchase the borrowers will sign either a promissory note or a Deed of Trust which will allow the bank to sell when and if the borrower defaults.  This process is often much quicker then a Judicial Foreclosure.

Foreclosure can be a scary word.  Often times you know it is coming well before you receive the first letter.  If you find yourself slipping underwater on your mortgage reach out and see if we can help you with a short sale.  The sooner the better.

 

How Long Does a Short Sale Take?

You have probably heard that short sales are anything but short.  That is true, but how long does a short sale really take?  I wish there was an easy answer for that.  My shortest short sale took 6 weeks.  My longest short sale was 2.5 years.

 

Since you are “shorting” the bank there is an approval process that can take up the most time.  During the housing crisis, many banks streamlined that process.  Others have not.  Some banks can take up to 30 days to approve the file.  If there is a mistake or something else that needs to be submitted, it could add an additional 30 days.

So while the answer is a difficult one, there is one HUGE thing you can do to make the short sale process as SHORT as possible.  Get your paperwork together and to your agent as quickly as you can.  The more time that passes can cause more delays, as the bank will request updated statements and pay stubs.  That will add time to the review process.

On average, you can expect a short sale to take 3-6 months.  Make sure to hire an agent that is familiar with distressed properties and get your paperwork together to get the home closed as quickly as possible.

If you have questions about short sales please call Jenny at 816-405-4866 or email Jenny@shortsalehelpkc.com

What is a BPO?

In the land of real estate there are hundreds of acronyms.  Often it leaves the consumer and, sometimes even the real estate agent scratching their head trying to decipher the lingo.  BPO is one you might hear in the short sale, foreclosure or relocation world.

BPO stands for Broker Price Opinion.  It is similar to an appraisal but it is not as precise.  An appraisal is done by a licensed appraiser.  A BPO is done by a real estate agent and can be done in one of two ways, exterior or interior.

In an exterior BPO the agent will be asked to take photos of the outside of the home.  They will need to verify the address and note any exterior damage to the property.  They will then compare the property with other nearby properties to come up with a price.

An interior BPO is a bit more intensive.  When conducting an interior BPO often times the agent will need to make contact with the occupants of the home.  They will need to contact either the agent on the property or the owners themselves.  Any damage to the property should be noted.  The bank could request pictures and measurements be taken.  The agent will then give a valuation based on comparing the property with other nearby properties in similar condition.

Often times the lender will request certain information and it will be up to the BPO agent to provide what they are asking for.

Once all the data is compared the agent will give the bank an idea of what the home is worth.  This opinion is important, especially in short sales because it will allow the bank to set a price that it will accept for the property.

If you are trying to sell your home in a short sale the BPO is especially important to you.  The bank will rarely take less than 86% of the suggested value.  The BPO can make or break the short sale.

 

What is a Short Sale?

Anyone who has been involved in a Short Sale knows that it is anything but a short… sale.  So, why do they call it a Short Sale and what exactly is it?

A Short Sale is when a homeowner gets approval to sell their home for less than is owed to the bank.  Short Sales are different from foreclosures because a foreclosure is a forced sale.  With a Short Sale the home owners have the option to hire their own Realtor® to complete the transaction.

Short Sales are usually a much longer process than a tradition sale.  That is because the seller, Realtor® and bank need to work together to get a short sale approval.  Some sellers find it to be an invasive process because there are certain qualifications that must be met in order to complete the transaction.

Sellers will need to fill out a packet outlining their financial situation.  They will need to also provide tax records, bank statements and pay-stubs.  Once the packet is submitted the bank will order an appraisal.  When the appraisal comes back the bank will have a set price that they will accept.  Rarely will the bank take less than 86% of the appraised value of the property.

A Seller might need to consider a short sale for a couple of different reasons.   The two most common reasons are a change in their financial situation or if they find themselves to be “underwater” in the home.  Short Sales became much more common after the housing market crash in 2008.   Many people lost their jobs or found their income to be a fraction of what it was.  As the market started crashing individuals found that they owed much more on their homes then the homes were worth.

Predatory lending practices also lead to an increase in short sales.  Prior to the crash, loans were much easier to get.  People were able to get into homes with little to no money down and had less money saved for the unexpected.  Banks would often lend much more than the homes were worth.

When is the right time to look into a short sale?  As soon as you know that you are going to start having long-term problems with paying your mortgage.  It is much easier to get a short sale approved before the home goes into foreclosure.  If you have any questions or want to set up a free consultation call Jenny Olson-Paden at 816-405-4866.

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 Ways Sellers can Help Make a Short Sale Smoother.

By now you have probably heard that short sales are anything but short!  There is a lot that goes into short sales.  They can be invasive and uncomfortable but often times worth it.  Here are 10 ways Sellers can help make a Short Sale Smoother.

1. Hire a professional.  Many agents are uncomfortable or inexperienced when it comes to the short sale process.  Ask how many short sales your agent has done.  Don’t be afraid to use an inexperienced agent if they have a passion for short sales or have a mentor that is helping them.
2. Be honest.  Your agent most likely has heard it all and then some.  Be genuine and upfront with them about your situation.  Their job is to help and advocate for you.  They need all the facts to do that well
3. Provide all paperwork as quickly as possible.  Each time a document is submitted it needs to be reviewed.  That can take time and make for a longer approval process.
4. Get an email address and be willing to learn electronic signatures.  Many banks are now taking electronic signatures for most documents.  Taking a few minutes to learn the ins and outs of those systems can save hours in the long run.
5. Be prepared to continue to receive calls and letters from the bank as you are going through the process.  Make sure to keep your agent up to date on everything you receive.  Many times the different departments don’t know what the others are doing.  You might be actively working with the short sale department while the collections department is still sending notices.
6. Don’t call and lose your temper with the bank.  While this is a stressful time and situation angry words and threats will do nothing but hurt your chances of getting the short sale approved.
7. Be prepared to provide multiple documents.  Often numerous bank statements, tax forms and pay stubs will be requested through out the transaction.
8. Work with utility companies to make sure that utilities stay on.  If any of them get turned off or you are thinking about turning them off, make sure to speak to your agent.  Frozen and broken pipes can be a game changer for the sale of your home.
9. Always direct phone calls from the bank to your agent.  Often times those calls are from debt collectors whose only job is to try to secure a payment.  They may or may not know (or care) that you are pursuing a short sale.
10. Be patient.  There are many moving pieces in a short sale.  If you trust your agent, know they are doing what they can to get the job done.  Make sure you are providing all the information they need, as quickly as possible.  Working together will make this process much smoother and will be the best way to get the job done!

Why do Short Sales Take So Long?

Realtors® know that short sales are anything BUT a short process.  Even though we are in an improved market, short sales and foreclosures will always be something we contend with.  It is important for agents, buyers and sellers to know about the process and why it can take longer than a traditional sale.

 

Step One:  The Short Sale Package

The bank is agreeing to take less than is owed on the property, therefore they want to get a complete idea of the seller’s finances and why the sale will be short.  This can be a time consuming and an invasive process.  The seller will be asked to provide bank statements, pay stubs and tax information.  These items are time sensitive and will need to be updated throughout the sale.  Once everything has been submitted it could take up to 30 days for the bank to review.

Step Two:  BPO or Appraisal

Once the bank has determined that a short sale is an option they will order either a BPO (Broker Price Opinion) or an appraisal.  This could take anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks.  Occasionally the figure the bank requests is much higher than market value.  The selling agent builds a case and presents their own evidence of why it should be lower.  That could add an additional 30 to 45 days.

Step Three: The Offer

Once a offer is presented the bank will assign a negotiator and they will have 30 days to review it.  During this time the selling agent will provide closing documents so the bank will know how much of a loss they will be taking.  Sometimes there will be a next level negotiator that could add an additional 30 days to the process.

 

Things that can hold up the process even more!

• Multiple Banks ~ Properties with both first and second mortgages can take double the time since both mortgage companies will need to approve the sale.
• High appraisal ~ if the appraisal comes in higher than it should, the selling agent could be building a case to get a new appraisal.
• The lender is dealing with internal issues.  It is not unusual for banks that don’t have a streamlined system to be backlogged and require multiple submissions of documents.
• Sellers that take some time to get documents together to submit.

Getting the job done

If you are working with an experienced short sale agent, they are working hard to get the sale to go through.  Patience from all parties is key.  Threatening to walk away from the sale will not cause the bank to work faster, in fact it can cause them to work slower.  Why would they want to put effort into a sale that could potential walk away at any moment?   Make sure you are working with a Realtor® that understands the short sale process.  Open communication and patience is what is needed for a successful transaction.

 

 

 

 

Short Sale Myths

Myth #1  I am current on my payments, I won’t qualify for a short sale.

Even if you are not behind on your payments, you still might qualify.  Each bank has a set of eligibility guidelines borrowers must meet.  

 Myth #2  Short Sales can only be done on primary residences.

If a borrower meets eligibility requirements a short sale may be able to be done on investment properties.

Myth #3 I can never get a mortgage again after a short sale.

The truth of the matter is that life sometimes happens and sometimes situations change.  Borrowers might not be able to afford to continue to live in their homes.  Individuals who short sale their home could be eligible for another mortgage within 2-4 years as long as credit has been re-established.

Myth #4 I will have to pay back the entire amount of the mortgage.

Often times borrowers will qualify to not have to pay back the balance of the mortgage.  If a borrower does show financial means they could be required to make a one time payment towards the outstanding balance.

If you are looking to buy or sell a home, without a short sale, I work with a diverse team that are willing and able to work with buyers, sellers and investors.

We would love to help with any and all your real estate needs!