When you do find a listing, taking certain steps can help ensure that the process moves forward as seamlessly as possible.
Short Sale Listings: What to Look for
Most short sales are listed by real estate agents. You’ll find these listings on local websites and in MLS feeds to various sites. The first step in identifying short sales is to find where the term “short sale” appears if you have access to search terms. It might show up under “status modifier,” or the term might be contained in the marketing comments. Choose that field as your search term. Agents might not directly say that a listing is a short sale. Instead, they could slip in terms that identify the listing as a short sale, including:
Subject to bank approval Notice of default Give the bank time to respond Preapproved by a bank Headed for auction Third-party review required
The “third party” designation sometimes means that the seller has not yet submitted the required documentation to the lender to be approved for a short sale. Read the listing carefully. You might be looking at a “contingent short sale,” which indicates that the home isn’t for sale or that only a backup offer will be considered.
What Lenders Require From Short Sale Sellers
Lenders typically want proof that the seller has no option other than a short sale or foreclosure:
A Hardship Letter
They invariably require a hardship letter from the seller. What went wrong so that the seller can’t meet their mortgage obligation? What have they done to try to remedy the situation? Is the problem likely to resolve at any time in the foreseeable future? The more dire and long term the circumstances, the more likely it is that a lender will approve a short sale.
Proof of Circumstances
Lenders require proof of the circumstances outlined in the letter, including bank statements and tax returns going back at least two years.
Documentation of Assets
They’ll want full documentation of all assets that a seller owns, as well as other debts they owe.
Comparative Market Analysis
They’ll want a comparative market analysis to nail down the fair market value of the property. No buyer is likely to be willing to pay more than this, so this market report can factor heavily into the lender’s decision.
A List of Other Liens
They’ll want a full list of any and all other liens that exist against the property.
Some Tips for Short Sale Buyers
Properties with a wide gap between fair market value and the outstanding mortgage balance are often your best bet. They’re short sale candidates because a foreclosure sale is not likely to generate enough funds to cover the mortgage. A lender is unlikely to spend the time and resources required to foreclose a home if there’s an opportunity to make more money through a short sale. Your offer should closely align with the home’s fair market value — and the more money you can put down, the better.
Find the Right Agent
Above all, hire an agent who is well-versed in handling short sales so they can best advise you of the procedures, including any local customs in your area. The more experience an agent has with short sales, the more likely that the price will be reasonable and acceptable to a lender. The right agent can touch base with the seller’s agent to determine the status of the short sale. You might want to move on if the process has stalled. For example, if a home’s seller hasn’t yet submitted a full short sale package to the lender, you might be better off looking elsewhere.
Check for Liens
You’ll also want to know if numerous liens exist against the property. This doesn’t necessarily mean a second mortgage. Tax liens, child support liens, and liens placed by other creditors can all pile on. Every one of these lienholders must agree to the short sale because they’re typically in line for payment after the first mortgage lender. These other creditors will not likely receive any money at all from the short sale if the mortgage lender isn’t receiving full payment.
