Many people are facing a tough decision: pursue a short sale or go through foreclosure. Which one is better for your particular situation?
Short Sale: What You Want To Know
A short sale provides the home owner the opportunity to put the home on the market at or near market value even if more than the market value is owed on the property. When the home is offered for sale, it must be advertised and marketed with verbiage such as ?short sale? and ?all contracts must be approved by bank.? This informs potential buyers that the seller cannot accept any offer without approval from the mortgage holder. In some cases, the bank will wait until several offers have been received before making a decision as to which one, if any, to accept. The reason for this is so the bank can be sure to accept the highest offer, thereby receiving the most money back on their initial investment.
The reason a bank will even consider a short sale is because oftentimes they will retain more of the money owed them as opposed to going through a costly foreclosure. The foreclosure procedure is expensive for banks as they include attorney fees, court fees, realtor fees, and tax expenses. Often it is simply more cost effective for them to accept the short sale.
Homeowners who are considering either of these options should also consult a real estate professional, a tax specialist, and perhaps a tax attorney. There are real estate professionals who specialize in short sales. They can provide additional information, such as the current market value of the home, the potential for it to sell at a specific price, and how long it will take to receive an offer. They will also be able to manage the short sale transaction, assisting the homeowner with forms, communication and anything else required of the bank. In addition, a tax specialist or tax attorney will be able to provide advice on any potential taxable consequences the homeowner may be responsible for in either a short sale or a foreclosure.
When determining what is best for a particular situation, short sale vs foreclosure, consult the professionals, discuss options with the mortgage holder, and understand what it will take to be successful in either case.
