Special offer

Countrywide/Bank of America - What Closing Costs WILL They Really Pay?

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Bank of America Closing Costs

As a short sale listing agent in the Destin Florida area, I tend to get the same type of offer again and again.  The buyer asks for all closing costs to be paid by the short sale lender.  So, on the most recent offer on one of my short sale listings, of course the buyer's agent pressed for having Countrywide, now Bank of America, pay all the closing costs.  I have been through this numerous times before.  The agent tells me they "had one case" where all the costs were paid.  Or they say they "heard" the short sale lenders would cover all the costs if the offer price was raised.  I have to always leave the final decision to my seller, but I recommend against going down this path. 

To placate this agent, I emailed my favorite Bank of America negotiator, specifically asking what closing costs would be paid.  This is her response:

"We pay all outstanding property taxes, commission (amount depends on loss and investor), $3,000 to any outside 2nd lien, settlement or escrow fee, title insurance, doc stamps. We typically do not pay any miscellaneous type fees (wire, courier, admin, doc prep, notary, home warranty, etc.). All fees are negotiable depending on the loss and investor and is up to each individual negotiator as to what fees will be paid.  It is also at management's discretion when a decision is made."

At the insistance of the buyer's agent, who asked if the buyer could increase his offer price to "cover" more closing costs, the Bank of America negotiator said: "No, they usually still will not pay those items."

99% of the time, if you submit a short sale offer asking for all the closing costs to be paid, you will get rejected or countered.  Why waste sixty to ninety days for nothing?  Submit a good offer, one that you know can get approved, and increase your chances of short sale success.

It's Wendy!

Wendy Rulnick, Broker, CRP, CRS, GRI, ABR     Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Destin Florida Real Estate

Destin Short Sales & Pre Foreclosure Help.

Read Destin Real Estate Blog

Call toll-free 1-877-ITS-WNDY (1-877-487-9639) or local 850-650-7883 ext 204

Email Wendy to sell your home or buy a home: itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

Call Wendy Rulnick, Destin real estate agent, to list and sell your home or condo or help you buy a home or rental property on the Emerald Coast of Florida in Walton, Okaloosa and Santa Rosa County-  Destin, Santa Rosa Beach, Fort Walton Beach, Niceville, Bluewater Bay, Navarre, Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Sandestin, Seaside, Crestview, Rosemary Beach, Mary Esther, Shalimar, Eglin AFB, Hurlburt Field.   Wendy is a short sale and pre-foreclosure specialist and can help you sell or buy a short sale property in and around Destin Florida and the Emerald Coast.

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"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Wendy Rulnick, Broker/Owner Rulnick Realty, Inc.

Call Wendy Rulnick 1-850-259-0422

email itswendy@rulnickrealty.com

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Wendy Rulnick helps real estate buyers and sellers on the Emerald Coast of Florida.

Rulnick Realty

 

Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

very good answer - better to face reality rather than keep butting up against the same wall.

May 05, 2009 10:20 AM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Lise  - Yes, it saves everyone labor!

May 05, 2009 10:32 AM
Steve Loynd
Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH
800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Wendy...you can never go wrong to tell the buyer(and heir agent) the way it works, they can pay it now or waste the time and pay it later anyway (and risk another offer taking it).

May 05, 2009 11:08 AM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Steve - I tell them, but they don't like to believe me.  Thus my post!

May 05, 2009 11:25 AM
Laura Giannotta
Keller Williams Realty - Atlantic Shore - Little Egg Harbor, NJ
Your Realtor Down the Shore!

Thanks for the info Wendy, maybe my clients will believe me when I show them this! (count down to May 7th!)

May 05, 2009 11:35 AM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Laura - I bet they still won't believe you :(  What is May 7?

May 05, 2009 11:38 AM
AMBER NOBLE GARLAND - Top Real Estate Expert, Property Tax Appeal Specialist & Author
Strategic Marketing Expert & Relocation Specialist Serving New Jersey and nationwide! - Marlboro, NJ
- The Agent You Can Trust To Deliver REAL Results!

I have had short sale listings where the buyer approved both a home warranty, and $10,000 worth of closing cost concession.  That one was with MetLife Mortgage Co. (formerly First Horizon Mortgage).  However, you are right Wendy....most lenders don't approve those types of terms.

May 05, 2009 02:11 PM
Anonymous
Harold Reed

Wendy,

Sometimes the wisdom comes when delivered by the "outside expert".  I plan on using your statements to "impress on local sellers".  They have heard it before but now its from a "new expert" Thanks for making my life easier, now I need to repay the debt to you.

 

May 05, 2009 03:12 PM
#8
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

Wendy, I am not a short sale pro, like you, but I would recommend asking for specific closing costs, rather than a %.  The bank may already be prepared to pay certain ones.  Seller's transfer tax is customarily paid by seller in this county, it is negotiable of course, but buyers are used to seller's paying it - banks from out of the area, which is about all of them, consider it a concession-buyer's closing costs.  So listing the costs that you are asking will eliminate some gray area later.

Thanks for all of your informative short sale posts, Wendy!

May 05, 2009 04:33 PM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Hey WENDY....while shorts are more common there than here...we tell the selling agent up front...not happening....enough is enough...and if they write it anyway...it is countered by the seller before the bank ever sees it....talk about looking a gift horse in every part you can...!

May 05, 2009 11:06 PM
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Thanks for the information. I will use the tips when I talk to clients.

May 05, 2009 11:26 PM
Wendy Rulnick
Rulnick Realty, Inc. - Destin, FL
"It's Wendy... It's Sold!"

Harold - OK, I'll take you up on that!

Virginia - Glad it helps.  And you're welcome:)

Sally & David - That's a good tactic, I do the same.

You are most welcome, Gita.

May 06, 2009 01:51 AM
Eric Reid
Renaissance Realty Group of Keller Williams Atlanta Partners - Lawrenceville, GA

Oh ... how I long for the days when they rolled closing cost into the loan.

May 06, 2009 07:04 AM
Heather Fitzgerald
REALTY WORLD-Harbert Company, Inc. - Greenwood, IN
REALTOR Greenwood Indiana Real Estate

I have two short sales approved with Countrywide where they are paying closing costs, and that is just two coming up for closing in the next week.

May 07, 2009 12:43 PM
Tisha Lawrence
Maximum One Realty-Fayette-Henry-Clayton-Fulton - Fayetteville, GA
South Metro Atlanta Agent 470-239-0330

Some agents just don't get it. They want all closing costs paid and the 3% commission. Well, if they paid it all and had to reduce the agents commission who gets burned? Typically both agents. Well, I will tell the selling agent that I have worked diligently to try and ensure that we BOTH get our commission. But, if you still want to put in an offer that will reduce the agents commission, you will bear a reduction on your commission side only by that amount (no splitting 50/50 mess). If they reduce commission by 1%, that agents commission will be reduced by 1%, and mine left alone. I bet they will go back to the buyers and have it corrected when you start talking about their commission.

Jun 14, 2009 12:55 PM