What is a "Short Sale"?

What is a ‘Short Sale’?

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A short sale is a sale of real estate in which the proceeds from selling the property will fall short of the balance of debts secured by liens against the property, and the property owner cannot afford to repay the liens’ full amounts and where the lien holders agree to release their lien on the real estate and accept less than the amount owed on the debt.

Any unpaid balance owed to the creditors is known as a deficiency. Short sale agreements do not necessarily release borrowers from their obligations to repay any shortfalls on the loans unless specifically agreed to between the parties. However, in California, legislation was passed to preclude deficiencies after a short sale is approved.

The same is true of lenders on first loans and lenders on second loans — once the short sale is approved, no deficiencies are permitted after the short sale.

A short sale is often used as an alternative to foreclosure because it mitigates additional fees and costs to both the creditor and borrower. Both often result in a negative credit report against the property owner. Real estate industry data indicate that there were 2.2 million short sales in the United States during the period of the subprime mortgage crisis up to mid-2013.

Process

Most creditors require the borrower to prove they have an economic or financial hardship preventing them from being able to pay the deficiency.

Creditors holding liens against real estate can include primary mortgages, junior lien holders—such as second mortgages, home equity lines of credit (HELOC) lenders, homeowners association HOA (special assessment liens)—all of whom will need to approve individual applications for a short sale, should they be asked to take less than what is owed.

Most large creditors have special loss mitigation departments that evaluate borrowers’ applications for short sale approval. Often creditors use pre-determined criteria for approving the borrowers and the terms of the sale of the properties.

Part of this process typically includes the creditor(s) determining the current market value of the real estate by obtaining an independent evaluation of the property with an appraisal, a Broker’s Price Opinion, or a broker opinion of value (BOV). One of the most important aspects for the borrower in this process is putting together a proper real estate short-sale package, including a hardship letter explaining why a short sale is needed.

Depending on each creditor’s policy and the type of loan, creditors may accept applications from borrowers even if the borrower is not in default with their payments.

Due to the overwhelming number of defaulting borrowers due to mortgage failures and other causes as part of the 2008–2012 global financial crisis, many creditors have become adept at processing such short sales applications; however, it can still take several months for the process from start to finish, often requiring multiple levels of approval.

Additional parties

Some junior lien holders and others with an interest in the property may object to the amounts other lien holders are receiving. It is possible for the anyone lien holder to prevent a short sale by refusing to agree to negotiate a reduction in their payoff to release their lien. (Iowa has a procedure, sale free of liens, which allows a foreclosure court to “cram down” a short sale over the objections of the junior creditors.)

The wide array of parties, parameters, and processes involved in a short sale can make it a complex and highly specialized form of debt renegotiation.

Services and consultants

Homeowners who wish to short sale their home may select their own Real Estate Agent or Broker when doing a HAFA Short Sale. This is the case for traditional short sales as well. Chase HAFA FAQ’s Real estate agents or brokers will either enlist the help of a third party negotiator to handle getting lender consent and lien releases for any junior liens but that is not typically an allowed expense.

In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and individual states license and regulate debt negotiators and other consultants who, for a fee, advise borrowers and negotiate loan modifications with creditors on the borrower’s behalf.

Credit Implications

A short sale negotiation resulting in a reduction of the amount a borrower owes towards a debt acts as a type of settlement or renegotiation of a borrower’s debt. Should the creditor report the debt reduction to credit reporting agencies, it can adversely affect a person’s credit report.

Despite significant misreporting on the topic, damage to one’s credit due to a short sale is really no different from that of a foreclosure. After a short sale, borrowers may find it difficult to obtain a new mortgage because the lender’s underwriting guidelines might reject lending to a borrower who has obtained a short sale in the past. As of 2011, national and state laws and industry standards for both real estate sales and lending are in an ongoing and rapid state of change.

Borrowers interested in pursuing a short sale should consult first with a HUD-approved mortgage counselor for up-to-date and specific advice as it applies to their situation. Also, borrowers need to obtain up-to-date information from multiple professionals, including an accountant, an attorney, and a real estate broker—all of whom should be specialized in loss mitigation and should be licensed to practice in the state where the real estate is located.

On August 15, 2013, the Federal Housing Administration instituted a new program called “Back-To-Work-Extenuating Circumstances” to assist potential borrowers who faced financial hardship during the recession.

This program provides a second chance for mortgage applicants who have experienced financial hardship such as unemployment or a severe reduction in income beyond the borrower’s control.

Borrowers

Prospective borrowers that have experienced an economic event and can document that the event was out of their control, that they have recovered, and that they have completed housing counseling can apply for an FHA-insured mortgage that will allow up to 96.50% financing.

Steps can be taken by homeowners after doing a short sale to get them back on track to getting a mortgage again. Get a letter from your lender confirming that your loan closed in a short sale, not a foreclosure. Also, order a copy of your credit report from all three bureaus.

This is where the lender will check current guidelines to see if qualified to get a mortgage. It is also important for a homeowner considering a short sale to consult an accountant or tax attorney as well. Since a successful short-sale will ultimately reduce the debt of a homeowner, the IRS considers the reduction of debt as income, resulting in certain tax implications.