How to Do a Short Sale on a Home

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A short sale is when a home is sold for less than the amount due on the mortgage.

Learn more about short sales and how they work.

Key Takeaways

  • When lenders agree to do a short sale in real estate, it means the lender is accepting less than the total amount due.
  • All lenders have varying requirements and may demand that a borrower submit a wide array of documentation in order to make a short sale.
  • If you are buying a short sale, be cognizant of the fact that short sales can take a long time. Delays in the process can be caused by a number of things.

Short Sales Today

A short sale in real estate is not always a pleasant transaction, but short sales have come a long way since 2006, so don't sell the concept short. Our present economy does not mean that short sales have gone away. For example, a person who bought a brand new home could die the day after closing, and the costs of an immediate sale could throw that transaction into short sale status.

For those who have been underwater for a while or struggled with a loan modification, that's another story. There are many ways to lose a home, but signing away ownership in a manner that destroys credit is one of the hardest, and that's what foreclosures tend to offer. For homeowners who can no longer afford to keep mortgage payments current, there are alternatives to bankruptcy or foreclosure proceedings. One of those options is a short sale.

There were a lot of short sales from 2006 to 2012, but they are not as prevalent today. In recent years, even sellers who are not delinquent might qualify for a short sale, which has opened many more short sale doors. Short sales tend to provide a dignified closure process for sellers.

Things to Know Before a Short Sale

When lenders agree to do a short sale in real estate, it means the lender is accepting less than the total amount due. Not all lenders will accept short sales or discounted payoffs, especially if it would make more financial sense to foreclose; moreover, not all sellers nor all properties qualify for short sales.

Except for certain conditions pursuant to the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007, be aware the IRS could consider debt forgiveness as income, and there is no guarantee that a lender who accepts a short sale will not legally pursue a borrower for the difference between the amount owed and the amount paid. In some states, this amount is known as a deficiency.

A lawyer can determine whether your loan qualifies for a deficiency judgment or claim. Most short sales in California carry no tax penalties anymore.

Short Sale Steps to Take

Although all lenders have varying requirements and may demand that a borrower submit a wide array of documentation, the following steps will give you a pretty good idea of what to expect.

Call the Lender

You may need to make a half dozen phone calls before you find the person responsible for handling short sales. You will want to talk to the "real estate short sale" or "work out" department, and try to get the name of the negotiator. Your real estate agent can also handle this step for you, in many circumstances.

Submit a Letter of Authorization 

Lenders typically do not want to disclose any of your personal information without written authorization to do so. If you are working with a real estate agent, closing agent, title company or lawyer, you will receive better cooperation if you write a letter to the lender giving the lender permission to talk with those specific interested parties about your loan. The letter should include the following:

  • Property address
  • Loan reference number
  • Your name
  • The date and effective time period
  • Your agent's name and contact information

Preliminary Net Sheet

This is an estimated closing statement that shows the sale price you expect to receive and all the costs of sale, unpaid loan balances, and outstanding payments due and late fees, including real estate commissions. Your closing agent or lawyer should be able to prepare this on your behalf. If the bottom line shows cash to the seller, good news, you will probably not need a short sale.

Hardship Letter

The sadder, the better for your hardship letter. This statement of facts describes how you got into this financial bind and makes a plea to the lender to accept less than full payment. Lenders are not inhumane and can understand if you lost your job, were hospitalized or a truck ran over your entire family, but lenders are not particularly empathetic to situations involving dishonesty or criminal behavior.

Proof of Income and Assets 

It is best to be truthful and honest about your financial situation and disclose assets. Lenders will want to know if you have savings accounts, money market accounts, stocks or bonds, negotiable instruments, cash or other real estate or anything of tangible value. Lenders are not in the charity business and often require assurance that the debtor cannot pay back any of the debt that it is forgiving. The bank will also require 30 days of payroll stubs.

Copies of Bank Statements

If your bank statements reflect unaccountable deposits, large cash withdrawals or an unusual number of checks, it's probably a good idea to explain each of those line items to the lender. In addition, the lender might want you to account for each and every deposit so it can determine whether deposits will continue. Typically banks require your last 2 months.

Comparative Market Analysis

Sometimes markets decline and property values fall. If this is part of the reason that you cannot sell your home for enough to pay off the lender, this fact should be substantiated for the lender through a comparative market analysis (CMA). Your real estate agent can prepare a CMA for you, which will show prices of similar homes:

  • Active on the market
  • Pending sales
  • Sells from the past 6 months.

Purchase Agreement and Listing Agreement 

When you reach an agreement to sell with a prospective purchaser, the lender will want a copy of the offer, along with a copy of your listing agreement. Be prepared for the lender to renegotiate fees and to refuse to pay for certain items such as home protection plans or termite inspections.

Now, if everything goes well, the lender will approve your short sale. As part of the negotiation, you might ask that the lender not report adverse credit to the credit reporting agencies, but realize that the lender is under no obligation to accommodate this request. Credit report status often not negotiable.

Buying a Short Sale Home

If you are considering buying a short sale, there could be drawbacks. For your protection, you should:

Also, be cognizant of the fact that short sales can take a long time. Delays in the process can be caused by a number of things, especially since short sales are often given lower priority than regular home sales.

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Sources
The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Debt. "Mortgage Debt Forgiveness & The Mortgage Debt Relief Act."

  2. The Mortgage Reports. "How to buy a short sale home."

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