Davidson Realty, Inc.

What is a Short Sale?

September 23, 2009

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Posted by in Distressed Properties, News, Short Sales

Short Sales Defined“Short sale” is a term I have heard a lot lately. I knew it referred to when a home owner sold their house for less than what they owed on it – with the lender’s approval. But I wasn’t exactly sure how it worked. So, when I was having coffee with Mirtha Barzaga – a Realtor at Davidson Realty, who is a Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE) and sells real estate and foreclosures in Jacksonville – I asked her about it.

She told me a story about a recent transaction she had done with her teammates, Juana Hausted and Pauline Cake, to show me how it works with the help of a professional. A Navy officer couple came to her when they were transferred from Florida to Virginia. They had bought a house they loved in World Golf Village three years ago, but the housing allowance wasn’t enough to keep it after their move. Mirtha explained they tried to modify their loan first. However, the lender refused to work with them. Since they were upside down on their mortgage by $100,000 and a foreclosure would cause them to lose their military clearance, she suggested a short sale to them. She immediately contacted their lender so they could work together on selling the home. Being a CDPE, Mirtha was educated on the proper procedures to start the process.

After doing her due diligence, Mirtha recommended pricing the home aggressively, which would save time and assist with an acceptable appraisal. They agreed to her strategy and the home was listed one Friday afternoon. After a flurry of showings over the weekend, a full price offer was received on Monday morning. The short sale package was submitted to the lender and a bank negotiator was assigned to the file. Again, this went smoothly because of her experience with short sales. The following week an appraisal was done and shortly thereafter the bank approved the offer via a short sale approval letter, which forgave the difference between the purchase price and the mortgage amount. The home closed two weeks later. Needless to say, the Navy couple was ecstatic – the financial burden was lifted and the future of their careers’ was safe. With so many people facing foreclosure, it is nice to know there are other options available and professionals willing to share their expertise. If you need help with foreclosures in Jacksonville or any other difficult mortgage situation, please  talk to a professional who can help! Call us at 800-940-2898.

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