How do short sales work in California?

A short sale is a pre-foreclosure residential real estate transaction where the owner of the mortgage loan, the lender or lien holder (hereinafter sometimes “Lender”), agrees to (i) allow the home owner to sell his or her property for less than — or “short” of — the outstanding amount owed on the mortgage loan, and …

What are the consequences of a short sale?

It also saves the lender the expense of foreclosing on a home where payments have stopped and the loan is in default. But a short sales results in a loss on the loan, and the end of interest payments and servicing charges that represented the lender’s profit.

Why buying a short sale is bad?

If you’re a seller, a short sale is likely to damage your credit — but not as badly as a foreclosure. You’ll also walk away from your home without a penny from the deal, making it difficult for you to find another place to live. However, a short sale can forestall foreclosure and its negative impact on your credit.

Can you negotiate repairs on a short sale?

Can You Negotiate A Short Sale? It is entirely possible to negotiate a short sale, but doing so can be a time-consuming process. Instead of negotiating with the seller alone, as is the case with most traditional sales, short sale negotiations must be approved by the lender, too.

How long does a short sale take in California?

How long does a short sale take? One California-based agent has estimated it takes about 60 to 90 days on average for a lender to approve a short sale deal — and that’s after receiving the full offer.

Do you owe the difference on a short sale?

What Is a Short Sale Deficiency? In a short sale, the difference between the total mortgage debt and the sale price is the “deficiency.” For example, say your lender approves a short sale in the amount of $300,000, but you owe $325,000 on the loan. The difference—$25,000—is the deficiency.

How much is a bank willing to lose on a short sale?

It’s best to strike a balance between what’s a good deal for you and what’s reasonable for the lender. A price that’s 5% to 10% below market value is typically a good number to put on the table.

When is a short sale a good thing?

What is a short sale? A short sale is the sale of a home for less than the homeowner owes on the mortgage. A short sale typically occurs when the homeowner has fallen behind on the mortgage payments due to financial hardship. For the bank or other lender that owns the mortgage, a short sale is preferable to letting a home go into foreclosure.

Who is involved in a short sale of a home?

Any junior lienholders have to agree to the short sale. So, the negotiations might also include any other mortgage lenders, like second-mortgage holders and HELOC lenders, homeowners’ associations, and judgment creditors.

Can a seller take a loss on a short sale?

In a short sale, this is not the case. The current owner is not the only one who must accept the offer. Since the owner is trying to get their mortgage lender to accept less than they are owed for the property, the lender must approve the sale. Lenders are not necessarily too eager to take a loss on their loan.

What are the risks of buying a house in a short sale?

Another risk of a short sale is losing out on the property to on all cash buyer or a buyer who is able to put down a large down payment. When agreeing to a short sale, banks and other lenders prefer to deal with these types of buyers. They see them as less risky than a buyer who needs to get a large mortgage in order to purchase the property.