DISTRESSED PROPERTIES FAQ
1.What is a Short Sale? A "short sale", also known as a "short pay" or "pre-foreclosure" occurs when a lender agrees to accept less than the amount owned on the original note or total payoff, as an alternative to foreclosure. We can convince lenders that they will do better if they take less than what is owed now rather than taking the property back by foreclosure and trying to re-sell it.
2. How long will it take? The short sale negotiation process can be rather lengthy. It may take several weeks to several months for approval. May lenders will have several layers of bureaucracy, insurers and investors that we will have to maneuver through in order to get the short sale approved. It is important to be patient during this process.
3. My house is going into foreclosure! Do I have enough time? Maybe, maybe not. Just starting a short sale will NOT
automatically stop a foreclosure. However, many times we can convince the lender to stop the foreclosure to let us attempt to negotiate a short sale. While there are no guarantees, it is certainly worth the risk.
4. Can I stay in the house? The key word to short sale is "SALE". The purpose is to get the property sold. This is not
a process that will help you keep the house indefinately. Moreover, it will be easier to sell the house if it is vacant. Therefore, you should most certainly make plans to vacate the property.
5. How do I know this will work? Again, there are no guarantees. We cannot, have not, and will not make promises to you that this will work. Once you miss a payment, the lender is in charge and can proceed to foreclosure if they want to. We know that they do not want to and we are very good at presenting alternatives to the lender that they often want to accept as opposed to moving forward with a foreclosure. We are very proficient at what we do, but NO GUARANTEES are being made as to whether or not the lender will accept the short sale.
6.Will I get money from the sale? No. A universal requirement of lenders in granting a short sale is that the borrower will not get any proceeds from the sale of the property. Being the lender is taking the loss on your loan, they are most certainly not going to allow the seller to profit from the situation.
7. What happens if this doesn't work? Your house will most likely go to foreclosure. A short sale is something we try after you have exhausted your other options.
8. What is a "release"? A lender may offer a release. This is a security insturment against the property in exchange for less than the total amount of the note. A release will allow the property to be sold without paying off the obligations of the note. However, the note is NOT SATISFIED. Advantages: This successful short sale will allow the property to be sold and thus avoid foreclosure. Disadvantages: The remaining debt on the property (sometimes called a deficiency) still exists. In other words, you are still liable for the note and still owe the money to the lender. Reality: It is not likely the lender will pursue the deficiency unless you have other significant assets. However if you chose not to try the short sale before going to foreclosure, and then you end up going to foreclosure, it will result in you having a deficiency anyway.
9. What is a "satisfaction"? A lender may agree to accept less than they are owed as complete and total satisfaction of the note and release its lien against the property. Advantages: Your note and obligation to the lender are satisfied for less than you owed. When the property is sold, the debt is paid off completely. Disadvantages: You may have some tax consequences that you should discuss with your tax advisor due to the fact the lender is making money you owe them disappear. Sometimes our negotiations are successful in obtaining a satisfaction. Although, theere are other times where the lender will only negotiate to a release.
10. How can I help? The lender will require a review of a financial package. The leading cause of delay and even denial of our offer to the lender is caused by the seller failing to cooperate and /or deliver the neccessary items in a timely fashion. To help us succeed, please find as much of the information as you can in advance. This will help us work faster and increase your odds of a successful short sale