Why Selling as a Short Sale is Better Than Foreclosure

There has been a lot of questions about how short sales and foreclosure will affect homeowners in the future. Credit Financial Planning Inc., www.creditfixed.com provided some great information for homeowners that are deciding weather to short sale their homes or let them go to foreclosure.

Here are some of the advantages of selling your home as a short sale instead of letting your home be foreclosed on.

1. Fannie Mae Guidelines for Primary Residence Loans- If you short sale your home, you will be eligible for a Fannie Mae backed mortgage after 2 years with no restrictions. With a foreclosure eligibility would be after 5 years with restrictions, and after 7 years with no restrictions.
2. Fannie Mae Guidelines for Non Primary Residence Loans- An investor who has done a short sale is eligible for  a Fannie Mae backed mortgage after 2 years. An investor who has had a property foreclosed on cannot get a Fannie Mae backed loan for 7 years
3. Credit Score- With a short sale, late payments will show up as short as 12 to 18 months after the completion of the short sale. Credit scores can be affected negatively 50 to 100 points depending on how the lender reports it. With a foreclosure, the credit score is typically affected for at least 3 years. Credit scores will be negatively affected between 200 and 300 points.
4. Credit Application Questions (Form 1003)- There are no questions on the credit application regarding a short sale. If you have had a foreclosure you will need to answer “Yes” to question C, section VIII: Have you had property foreclosed upon or given title or deed in lieu thereof in the last 7 years?
5. Credit History- Short sales may or may not be reported on a credit history depending on how the lender reports it. A foreclosure will remain as a public record for 10 years or more.
6. Security Clearance- A short sale does not usually raise red flags regarding security clearance. With a foreclosure, security clearance will usually be revoked.
7. Deficiency Judgement-On a short sale, this is a negotiable issue between the seller and the lending institution. With a foreclosure there are no negotiations between the homeowner and the lending institution. It is up to the lender whether to file a deficiency judgement.
8. Deficiency Judgement- If there is a deficiency judgment on a short sale, the amount is usually lower. The foreclosure process usually will cost the lender more, hence resulting in a larger deficiency judgment if the judgment is filed.

Selling your home as a short sale can be a good option for homeowners who have a financial hardship instead of foreclosure. If you are considering selling your home as a short sale, the first step is to contact your CPA and attorney to make sure that it is the best option for you. The next step is to call Brent and Jill Johnson for more information on how to short sale your home!

Please contact us for more information regarding short sales in South Lake Tahoe. You can also view a current list of bank owned foreclosures in South Lake Tahoe for sale.