Why Do A Short Sale Instead Of Foreclosure?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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A short sale transaction occurs when

mortgage lenders allow the borrower to sell the house for less than the amount owed on the mortgage

. The foreclosure process occurs when lenders repossess the house, often against an owner’s will. … Furthermore, a short sale is far less damaging to your credit score than foreclosure.

Why do banks prefer foreclosure to short sale?

It costs more to the lender to go through the foreclosure process. During a short sale, the lender shares the cost with the homeowner to quickly sell the home. From a financial standpoint, many lenders prefer a short sale

if the home is not expected to sell for more than the balance due at the foreclosure auction

.

Does a short sale avoid foreclosure?

A short sale is an alternative to foreclosure. A short sale

prevents you from having to go through foreclosure and eviction

. A short sale does make a smudge on your credit report but is much less traumatic to your credit than a foreclosure.

Why would a lender accept a short sale?

A short sale, sometimes called a preforeclosure sale, allows

struggling homeowners to work with their lenders to sell their homes when they can no longer make their payments

. This helps the borrower get out from under mortgage debt and results in less damage to their credit than a foreclosure (more on that later).

What is the downside of a short sale on a home?

Disadvantages of a Short Sale

A short sale comes with quite a few catches.

There are more parties involved than

a typical sale making the process complicated and often lengthy. In a traditional home sale, price negotiations happen between the buyer and seller (or their representatives), not the seller’s bank.

Why are foreclosures cash only?

When a property is listed as “cash only” it means that

it doesn’t qualify for a loan

, for one or several reasons. Properties must pass an inspection done by an appraiser hired by a mortgage lender, and if problems are evident and the home fails inspection no lender will use the property as collateral for a loan.

What happens if a short sale does not sell?

Unfortunately, if your attempts at short selling your home fail you’re left with a home you’re struggling to afford and no way to sell it. When short sales don’t pan out,

homeowners still have foreclosure avoidance options, including deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure

.

Are short sales cash only?


No cash

-out

A short sale means they won’t earn any profit from the sale of the house – the bank or mortgage lender gets all the sales proceeds.

What are the risks of a short sale?

  • Long Process. …
  • Subject to the Mortgage Lender’s Approval. …
  • Lender Could Counter, Reject or Not Respond. …
  • Opportunity Cost. …
  • Property ‘As Is’ …
  • Is the Seller Approved? …
  • Lenders Prefer All Cash or Large Down Payments.

What can stop a short sale?


Foreclosure

stops the short sale process because the bank takes ownership of the home; it’s no longer yours to sell. This happens if you can’t make your mortgage payments during the short sale process.

How fast can a short sale close?

Be aware the short sale process could take much longer than a traditional home purchase. Even with a qualified agent, it’s not uncommon for short sale transactions to

take six months or more to close

.

How long does a short sale take 2020?

Based off of studies and experiences from the short sale processing company Universal Short Sales, the average time a short sale takes to close is

2-5 months

. However, a short sale that is not professionally processed can take up to 6-12 months.

What a short sale means for the buyer?

Short sales are

a mixed bag for the buyer

, the seller and the lender. … In a short sale, the proceeds from the transaction are less than the amount the seller needs to pay the mortgage debt and the costs of selling. For this deal to close, everyone who is owed money must agree to take less, or possibly no money at all.

Who pays closing costs in a short sale?

In a short sale transaction on the other hand,

the seller’s closing

costs are usually paid out of the money the buyer brings to the closing. Normally, the seller’s lender must approve all of these seller closing costs before a short sale can be approved and completed.

What happens after a short sale is approved by the bank?

After accepting an offer, the homeowner or his realtor

must forward the offer to the lender for review

. If the lender approves the offer, the short sale moves forward. If the lender does not accept the offer, the buyer may counteroffer or end the process.

Does a short sale affect the buyer?

Short Sales Don’t Mean a Discount

They might give out a loan that is too much for the buyers to handle. When the market finally drops, the owner is left with little equity and a mortgage that a sale will not pay off.

Buyers end up owing more on the home than it is worth

.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.