Short Sales Homes: Tips for Selling Your Home to Stop Foreclosure

Short sales homes can be a saving grace for borrowers facing foreclosure. The process involves selling the property short of what is owed on the mortgage note. When borrowers become delinquent with their payments and do not possess the financial means to become current, some lenders will grant short sale approval to prevent the property from falling into foreclosure.

Short sales homes are sold below the appraised value and proceeds are used to satisfy the debt. Obtaining short sale approval requires borrowers to undergo a financial audit through their mortgage lender and locate a qualified buyer to purchase the property.

Borrowers must work with an assigned loss mitigator. This individual is generally employed by the bank to develop a plan to either cure mortgage arrearages and help borrowers become current with payments, or short sell the property within a specific timeframe.

Not all mortgage lenders offer short sales, nor do all homeowners or properties qualify for approval. Those who do offer the option of short selling handle the process according to their established protocol.

Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all strategy for negotiating with lenders to obtain short sale approval. However, borrowers who have accrued equity in their property or those who own valuable assets which could be used to repay the note cannot apply for mortgage short sales. The only way to know if properties qualify for short sale approval is to contact their lender.

Short sales are usually handled through the bank's loss mitigation department. When borrowers become delinquent on their mortgage loan their account is turned over to a loss mitigator. This person acts as a mediator between the borrower and lender. Mitigators do not make final decisions, but can offer guidance and advice throughout the process.

The first step of the short sale process involves submitting a packet of financial documents. Similar to an IRS audit, loss mitigators carefully review borrowers' financial status to determine if they are financially insolvent or possess assets which could be used to repay the loan.

Borrowers are usually required to submit payroll documentation, previous years' tax returns, list of income and expenses, property tax and homeowners' insurance premiums, credit card and banking statements, and various other documents.

Many mortgage lenders require borrowers to have a buyer in place before discussing the option of short selling property. If so, a copy of the sales contract must be provided to the lender. Other banks allow borrowers time to list their property through a realtor and grant two to three months to locate a buyer. The borrower must then submit a copy of the listing agreement to the bank. If a buyer cannot be located by the deadline, lenders commence with foreclosure proceedings.

If you are facing foreclosure and need to sell your house quickly to satisfy a short sale agreement, consider seeking out private real estate investors. Many investors are attracted to distressed properties because they are sold below market value and make good investment properties; particularly for investors who engage in house flipping.

Many investors buy homes with cash in order to expedite the deal and increase their power of negotiation. Locating an investor who purchases properties with cash can improve borrowers' chance of obtaining short sale approval.

Borrowers should take time to become educated about the process of short selling their home and weigh the pros of cons of this decision. As they say, knowledge is power. The more you know, the better your chances of obtaining a successful outcome.