Short Sale Home: Save Your House from Foreclosure

A short sale home involves property that is in the process of being foreclosed. Although the bank has not yet seized the house, borrowers have little time before losing their property. Lenders will occasionally allow the homeowner to sell their home for less than they owe on their mortgage note through the process of a short sale.

Purchasing a short sale home is basically the same as buying any real estate for sale. The sale of these properties is generally facilitated by a realtor. The homeowner is required to work with an assigned bank loss mitigator.

An employee of the bank, loss mitigators act as a mediator between the seller, buyer and lender. They also assist the borrower throughout the short sale process and provide guidelines which must be strictly adhered to.

Each mortgage lender institutes protocol for establishing short sale approval. Many lenders will accept the purchase price as payment in full toward the delinquent mortgage note. Other lenders require the borrower to repay the difference between the purchase price and loan balance.

If the borrower is unable to pay the difference at the time of the sale, the bank will issue a Deficiency Judgment. These judgments wreak havoc on the borrower's credit history. This black mark prohibits borrowers from obtaining another mortgage for years to come. The judgment remains in place until paid in full.

Borrowers should give careful consideration to the long term affects when lenders issue deficiency judgments. Depending on the amount owed, it might be a smarter financial decision to allow the home to fall into foreclosure.

When foreclosure is looming, borrowers should request a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure. This allows borrowers to return the house to the lender and walk away from the property without owing additional money. The homeowner will lose all monies vested in the home and cannot receive sale proceeds if the property sells for more than is owed on the loan.

Borrowers must obtain short sale approval from their lender before they can sell their house for less than is owed. Since the bank is accepting a financial loss on the property, borrowers will be subjected to financial scrutiny. Banks require borrowers to submit a short sale packet and provide substantial financial documentation.

Banks accept approximately 10-percent of short sale requests. Homeowners can improve their chance of obtaining approval by working with a short sale specialist. Some realtors have received training in the short sale process. A few real estate investors have been trained in this niche as well.

Borrowers who need to sell their home to satisfy a short sale agreement should consider locating private real estate investors. Many investors purchase homes with cash to obtain additional negotiation power and quickly close the deal.

Locate real estate investors by conducting research online. Attend local real estate investment networking meetings. Check the Classifieds section in newspapers and real estate publications. Ask friends, family or co-workers for referrals.