Is A Bank Short Sale My Only Choice?
Friday, September 18th, 2009
A bank short sale is not the only choice we have to avoid foreclosure - but it is definitely better than some of the other possibilities. If a homeowner is already in this situation, they are already dealing with intense financial anxiety from every angle. If approved for a bank short sale, much of this stress will be alleviated because they’ll be in a great position to purchase another home.
It is extremely difficult for us as homeowners to accept the fact that our home may be lost, but if it’s going to happen, avoiding foreclosure is the highest priority. It’s important for us to understand clearly that a short sale is not the”only” way out, but it may be the “best” way out. If we foreclose, the lender can sue us, garnish our wages, put a lien on other property, and hound us for years. All this in addition to the destruction of our credit rating. With a bank short sale - if handled correctly, we’re making an agreement with our lenders beforehand to settle most of these issues now.
A bank short sale can cause high levels of stress and anxiety. It’s easy to feel overpowered by all of the accountants, tax issues, lawyers, forms, legal jargon, and phone calls. This is not even considering the financial difficulties we’re experiencing in other areas. It is in this situation that we must not forget that all parties involved in our short sale are trying to get as much money as they can. They may make surprise requests in the final weeks/days. Prepare yourself for this possibility - don’t be bullied.
These last second surprises can be avoided if we seek expert advice from the outset. We don’t want to attempt a bank short sale without expert assistance of some kind - and should not procrastinate in acquiring it. Throughout the process we’ll deal with complex issues of property taxes, our loan, and real estate. We’ll need an expert in each of these areas. If you look in your area you should be able to find services that provide you with the expert assistance of qualified accountants, lawyers, and real estate agents - who will be paid by your lender. As with any type of service you need to exercise discretion in order to get the best assistance available.
A bank is losing money with a short sale and are not necessarily enthusiastic about doing them. They avoid a foreclosure - yes, but their attitude is not to be considered enthusiastic. They can be difficult to deal with at times because they’re trying to get back as much money as they can. For this reason they might not always move as fast as we want - although we know they can. Patience is a valued virtue here - so practice it and keep cool. If you’ve ever had to work with the government you know exactly what dealing with these banks will be like.
The entire short sale process is strenuous and all parties may not agree on every issue - but if we can tough it out, we’ll be the winners in the end. We’ll be successful if we avoid foreclosure and bankruptcy, get our debt forgiven, and come out without any unpaid property taxes. This is why a bank short sale is such a sweet deal. It won’t be perfect, but at least we’ll be in a position to buy another home. Completing a short sale puts us in the best position for the future. No, a bank short sale may not be the only way out, but it is one of the better options!
Anthony Mauwer’s free advice has helped many distressed homeowners successfully complete a bank short sale. Be sure to check out his short sale blog for excellent tips and free advice on how the bank short sale can work for you.







