The Advantages of Buying a Short Sale

Posted on: October 17th, 2011 by jenmatt No Comments

In Madison,  buyers have the option of buying new and foreclosed properties, as well as short sales. This can be a lengthy process but with the right realtor, you could end up with the home of your dreams for a very competitive price!

Short sales bring many distinct advantages to the table that foreclosures simply do not. Attractive selling prices, better conditions, access to information about the home and a quicker overall process are some of the chief benefits of buying a short sale; learn more below.

Competitive Price

Although it is not always the case, many short sales come along with competitive low price tags. Since the bank is already agreeing to take a loss on the home, the asking price is usually far below market value. Without a doubt, competitive prices are the most-cited reasons for investors to look into short sales.  By becoming well-versed in how the short sale process works, investors can make some very good deals on such transactions.

Better Condition

Investors who have purchased many foreclosures in the past are all too familiar with the mess that is often left behind with such properties. Disgruntled homeowners often trash their homes before banks officially take possession of them; in turn, investors must spend considerable amounts of time and money on repairs in order to make such properties marketable. Since homeowners are involved in the short sale process themselves, the odds that they will ransack their own homes is much lower. Instead of having to move out in an unhappy hurry, sellers usually stick around to see the process through – and they keep their homes in much better shape.

More Information

Buying a foreclosed home from a bank often leaves a lot of blank spaces for investors to face. After all, the bank hasn’t been living in the house – it was merely supplying the financing for it. There is no personal connection there, so the investor cannot get information about the home’s unique history. With a short sale, though, an investor can usually still pick the brains of the seller in order to find out less tangible – but still vital – information about the house.

Less Negotiation

When a bank tries to market a foreclosure, it still has the tendency to haggle back and forth with potential buyers. After all, the foreclosure process has cost the bank a lot of money that it would like to recoup. During the short sale process, though, most of the heavy-hitting negotiating occurs before the investor even enters the picture. The bank and the seller come to an agreement about what the property’s asking price will be. While this may leave less “wiggle room” for an investor, it also spares him the sometimes arduous experience of going through a long, drawn-out negotiation phase.

Investors Can Benefit from the Short Sale Process

Although the advantages and benefits of a short sale may not be readily apparent to an investor, the truth is that they are very real. It is important to bear in mind, though, that not all short sales bring these benefits to the table. Investors should take their time while investigating short sales in their local areas in order to find the ones that have the most reasonable terms. Finding a short sale that will allow for exceptional profitability is perfectly possible – investors simply need to do a little homework before delving into the process.

There is a lot to think about when purchasing a home, and a short sale can be more confusing than a standard home for sale.  What questions or concerns do you have about short sales, don’t be shy that is why we are here! Contact us to find out if buying a short sale is right for you!

 

 

 

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Are Short Sales Getting Easier?

Posted on: September 28th, 2011 by jenmatt No Comments

It is not always easy to complete a short sale (which is where the lender agrees to accept less than the mortgage amount due on the sale of a property by a seller). However, there is mounting evidence that the banks are seriously favoring short sales over the option of foreclosure. Here is the evidence that has led us to this conclusion.

Banks Net More Money on a Short Sale

RealtyTrac’s latest data tells us that a short sale sells at approximately a 10% discount. A foreclosure sells at approximately a 35% discount. Obviously, the bank will net more by agreeing to short sale than they would by bringing the home to foreclosure.

Banks Are Beginning To Pay Short Sale ‘Bonuses’

In a recent article, HousingWire reported on a new program being instituted by CitiMortgage an affiliate of Citigroup:

CitiMortgage, is paying borrowers an average $12,000 after completing a short sale this year.

Justin Rand, the senior vice president of loss mitigation at the bank, said servicers are putting more of an emphasis on streamlining the process and pursuing a short sale ahead of foreclosure.

There is no better proof that some banks prefer a short sale than the fact that they are paying bonuses to homeowners who pick that option.

The Numbers Already Show an Increase in Short Sales

In the same article mentioned above, CitiMortgage said the percentage of troubled loans that now go to short sale route have quadrupled (4% to 16%) in the last two years.

And in a separate article, Bank of America reported they completed over 95,000 short sales in 2010 which more than doubles the number in 2009. BofA also reported that they completed more short sales than it sold previously foreclosed homes every month for the last year and a half. Last month (May), BofA completed roughly 9,000 short sales compared to 7,000 foreclosures sold.

Bottom Line

There are many advantages to a short sale over a foreclosure for the seller (they get to plan their move, there is less embarrassment with friends and neighbors, the negative impact on their future ability to purchase is much less severe). Luckily, it now seems that the banks also think it is in their best interest to pursue a short sale.

 

 

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The Fundamentals Behind a Short Sale

Posted on: September 14th, 2011 by jenmatt No Comments

Sometimes people wanting to buy or sell a Madison home have questions about short sales, but the fundamentals behind a short sale are pretty easy.

For example, let’s say that you have a property that is worth about $150k and that it has two mortgages. The first mortgage is $100k and the second one is a mere $40k. So, the entire sum of the real estate property would be $140,000. Now, if you are a real estate investor, you obviously would not want to buy a $150,000 home for $140,000. It doesn’t make any sense at all and is NOT in your best interest. The short sale is incorporated when you try and get the bank you are dealing with to less than the “debt” on the home, say $100,000 instead of $140,000. Why would a bank do such a thing? Well, there are several reasons behind this!

First off, there is always going to be a lot of money paid out for the foreclosure and the various costs for repairs around the house. Second off, you have to consider wage growth. This means taking a look at something and realizing that the price of it will fluctuate over time. Think of something as simple as a carton of eggs. A few years ago you could buy a dozen for $0.50. Now you are looking at close to $2 for a dozen. The reason? People make more, it costs more to live, etc. The cost of living is always on the rise and real estate is no different. Banks look at this fluctuation and know that in the end it will benefit them. The one reason a lot of people don’t like to do short sales is because it doesn’t really benefit the owner of the home.

Sure, it is better than foreclosure which will damage your credit more so than a short sale. But, in all cases, a short sale will leave the seller with… nothing. They won’t get any money for the deal which means they might have a hard time moving on to another place to live. For the buyer, they might be getting a heck of deal for the house, but they can also assume that it will need a lot of repairs to the home. In the end, a short sale could seem beneficial or disadvantageous to either party. Frankly, no one really wins in a situation like this, except maybe the bank. However, if you need to get rid of a home as a seller, this is one of the quicker ways to go about it.

 

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Short Sales vs. Foreclosures

Posted on: September 12th, 2011 by jenmatt No Comments

Many Madison homeowners who need to sell their homes do not know whether to do it through a short sale or foreclosure. These homeowners should know that short sales offer the homeowner many more benefits than going through a foreclosure. In the case of a short sale, the benefits to the homeowner are:

• Only late payments on the mortgage show on a credit report and after the sale of the home, the mortgage will be reported as paid or negotiated. This could lower a homeowner’s credit score by as little as 50 points if all other payments have been made. The effect of a short sale can be as brief as 12 to 18 months.
• A Short Sale is not reported on a credit history. There is no specific reporting item for ‘short sale.’ The loan is typically reported as ‘paid in full, settled.’
• A Short Sale on its own does not challenge most security clearances whereas a foreclosure does.
• A Short Sale is not reported on a credit report and is therefore does not present a challenge to employment.
• In some successful short sales it is possible to convince the lender to give up the right to pursue a deficiency judgment against the homeowner, (i.e., payment of the shortfall or the difference between what was owed and what the bank received.)
• Under the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, if a deficiency is forgiven or cancelled, the home is a principal residence, and it is worth less than $2 million, the tax on the deficiency will be forgiven. This benefit applies to homes that are the subject of a Short Sale and a Foreclosure.

 

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What to Look for in a Short Sale

Posted on: September 7th, 2011 by jenmatt No Comments

Many homeowners in Madison are considering selling their home through a short sale. It is a good idea for buyers and sellers alike to understand what is involved in this process so that neither party will get tripped up. Here’s what you should know if you are considering purchasing a short sale property:

The Basics

The bank does not own the property, but it is the party that will take the loss. That means the bank will be the one to approve the offer, not the seller. It also means that the property will be sold as is and the buyer will be responsible for any repair costs. Since the bank is taking less than what is owed, there is not much room for negotiation. You will make an offer on an agreed upon amount; and at the end of the process, the offer may or may not be accepted. The bank may also continue to accept offers from other prospects.

Be Prepared to Wait

If you are in a hurry to close on a property, purchasing a short sale home is probably not for you. The bank may take several months to review and approve or decline the offer. You may want to introduce yourself early on in the process with the bank’s loss mitigation department, so that you can at least stay informed along the way.
There’s No Guarantee

A short sale can present a real bargain – although there is no guarantee that the offer will be accepted. In some states, the seller may also be liable for making up the difference in the sale price and loan amount to the bank, which may affect the price the seller is willing to accept from you. The discount on the selling price may not be worth the wait and aggravation of dealing with the lender. Do your own market analysis to understand the real value of the home and the neighborhood.

It’s best to work with a realtor who is experienced in the short sale market. The realtor can help you through the process, including determining that the short sale is already lender approved. While some short sales do work out, they present high-risk transactions for all parties involved. Do your homework and understand both the benefits as well as the challenges that may be involved.

 

 

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