What Does Short Sale Mean?

Buying Short Sales: What You Need to Know

As the real estate market remains volatile, one of the best options for many new homebuyers is purchasing a short sale home. But, what does "short sale" mean? A short sale is when lenders have the opportunity to sell a property before the bank forecloses on the home rather than after. While buying short sales creates the opportunity for real estate investors to pay well-below-average housing prices for properties within ideal locations, there are still drawbacks.

If you're interested in buying short sales, here are a few things you need to be aware of:

Why Banks Short Sale Pre-Foreclosure Homes

The last thing a bank wants to do is own a property secured by the bank's loans. When a property owner is in default and owes more than what the home is currently worth, the bank will work with the seller to offer the property for less than they owe on the mortgage loan.

How much money will banks take off? When buying short sales, how much should I expect prices to fluctuate? On average, banks estimate that holding on to the property after foreclosure will cost up to 18 percent of the home value to complete the inspection, appraisals, repair and maintenance. Instead, it is a much easier and financially sound decision for banks to sell the home "as is" to avoid any third-party inspection process.

What to Consider Before Buying a Short Sale

Buying short sales might seem like a good deal for the buyer, but that's not always the case. Here are three major conflicts buyers and sellers face when a short sale, pre-foreclosed home is on the market:

Time: Don't let the name fool you. Buying short sales takes a very long time. There's a whole gambit of scenarios of why a short sale might be delayed, but many of the hurdles buyers have to overcome have to deal with secondary financing on the homeowner's original mortgage, bank processing delays and private mortgage insurance policy breakdowns. Buying short sales is a very complex process, which can leave the short sell buyer in housing limbo for up to six months.

Condition: Short sale homes often need additional maintenance and repairs. When the current property owner is unable to pay the mortgage on the home, more often than not the condition of the property diminishes over time. Additionally, short sale homebuyers should take into account that the property will have had more than one previous owner, which adds to the wear and tear.

Lender Restrictions: Banks can renegotiate a short sale at the last second. If a new law passes, the market begins to change or the bank finds out more information about the property, they reserve the right to change the terms of the contract at any point in the process. Banks will also refuse to pay for extra services like seller closing costs or inspections. If you want something specific inspected on the property, you're probably going to pay for it yourself.

Short sale homes are the real estate market's diamond in the rough. It's true that buying short sales can be a very tricky process, but for the flexible and patient homebuyer, the short sale home can be the dream house they've been searching for.

How to Close on a Home Quickly

Congratulations! You've finally found the house of your dreams and submitted an offer. Now on to the tricky part - getting your loan approved.

How Long Should it Take from Purchase to Closing on a Home?

Once your offer is accepted by the seller, your loan application will be submitted to an underwriter for approval or disapproval based on your financial and credit standing. This process, which can take as short as two weeks or as long as two months, is often the most stressful time for a new home buyer.

It is common for a new buyer to be excited about their home purchase only to hear horror stories that their loan may be denied or the offer may fall through. This anxiety or uncertainty can also be heightened if the buyer needs to move quickly, and has to consider a temporary rental until the house closes. While this situation is never ideal, there are certain steps that can help move the closing process along. Here are a few tips and quick close solutions:

• Know what you can afford.
• Know your credit score.
• State all financial information upfront and truthfully.
• Provide paper and electronic copies of all financial documents.
• Ask the right questions and think ahead. Regularly ask your lender if there is anything else you can provide to help your portfolio. By politely asking, “What's next?” you may help create a sense of urgency that can help speed the process and get you into your new home more quickly.

If you've done your buyer homework, crossed all your T's and dotted your I's, your home will be more likely to close in a desired time frame. However, if you're still in escrow and need to move quickly due to lease expiration or other unforeseen event, you may find yourself looking for a temporary rental. The situation may short-term plan, such as a lease. If you have a lot of furniture and belongings, you may want to put them in storage for a month or two while you find a smaller month-to-month rental. If you're unable to find a temporary living arrangement, you can also consider staying with family and friends during this time. This moving to move may cause an unneeded headache, but at the end of the day, you will be much happier you decided to wait out your loan when you're able move into your new house and call it home.

Many homes under contract will not be able to close after September 30 if Congress does not act.

On September 30, the cost of a mortgage could rise significantly. If this happens, people wanting to purchase a home run the risk of being priced out of the American Dream of home ownership. Even worse, this could hold back the housing recovery.

Many homes now under contract will not be able to close and 1,300 sales per day could stall on September 30, 2011, unless Congress takes swift action to make the current FHA and GSE loan limits permanent.

Well-qualified buyers don't need another hurdle to access affordable mortgage financing.
If Congress does not act, below are examples of the loss of buying power accessible to those purchasing their home though FHA loan program.

County Current FHA Loan Limit Limit as of 10/1/2011 Difference
Atascosa County $332,500 $287,500 ($45,000)
Bandera County $332,500 $287,500 ($45,000)
Bastrop County $288,750 $271,050 ($17,700)
Bexar County $332,500 $287,500 ($45,000)
Caldwell County $288,750 $271,050 ($17,700)
Comal County $332,500 $287,500 ($45,000)
Guadalupe Co. $332,500 $287,500 ($45,000)
Hays County $288,750 $271,050 ($17,700)
Jeff Davis Co. $271,250 $271,050 ($200)
Kendall County $332,500 $287,500 ($45,000)
Medina County $332,500 $287,500 ($45,000)
Travis County $288,750 $271,050 ($17,700)
Williamson Co. $288,750 $271,050 ($17,700)
Wilson County $332,500 $287,500 ($45,000)

How to Buy a House Before Your Other House Sells

In a buyer's market, the inventory of homes for sale can be astounding. Deciding on a home to buy is difficult enough, but what happens when you have one to sell beforehand? Many times, especially in a soft real estate market, a buyer may get into a situation where they find a new house before their current house sells. Acting as a buyer and a seller in separate transactions can be tricky business, especially if you need the equity from your current home to pay for the new home. Luckily there are some best practices that can help show you how to buy a house before your other house sells.

Consider a Bridge or Home Equity Loan. There are many financing options available when it comes to home buying, and bridge loans can be an easy way to finance a new home sale before your existing home closes. A bridge loan is one that is used to provide funds needed for a short period until another source of funds becomes available. Sometimes called a "swing" loan, it allows a homebuyer who needs the equity in his old home to pay for the new one to close on the new home purchase before closing on the old home sale. The interest rates on these loans are typically high. However, because the loan will be paid off in a short period of time, this should not be a huge problem for buyers. In a similar vein, you might consider a home equity loan on the house you already own. This is a bit riskier, but provides the same benefits.

Rent your current home. If you can find short-term or month-to-month tenants who are willing to rent your current home until it sells, you can avoid having to worry about the house sitting vacant while you are moving into the new home. This can help you avoid having to winterize or de-winterize the property and stage the home for showings. You will also be able to apply the rental income to your existing mortgage on the house, to alleviate the financial burden of paying two mortgages.

Work with the Seller. In a soft market where buyers are limited, sellers are often willing to work with the buyer on a purchase agreement that works for both parties. If you've already found the house you want to buy, but haven't yet sold your existing home, it may be possible that the seller will allow you to make a small down payment with a signed contract that permits you to wait to make the purchase until your old house sells.