Thanks to a heads up from my clients (an Army pediatrician and DOD contractor) I realized that the Army Corps of Engineers has a program designed to help military families feeling the pinch of having to sell their homes in order to move from one station to another through no fault of their own.  They need to go where the military sends them and, in this housing market, that's not always a good thing for selling a home they may have purchased not too long ago.

Enter: the Military Maven of all Realtors (at least in this area) - Cindy Jones of Woodbridge, VA.  Cindy's input and insight have been invaluable.  Her experience working with military clients over the years and he selfless assistance led me to the HAP website and then to a phone call to a HAP counselor in Savannah, GA.

Here's the bottom line: There is some assistance coming for military families on the move.  It is a finite amount of money (about $55,000,000).   It'll help a lot of folks avoid both the headache and stigma of short sales (not to mention the hurt it would put on someone's security clearance). 

The not-so-good news is that final regulations for administering the program have not be written and handed down yet and they aren't expected anytime soon unless you consider August soon.  Once final regulations are in  place, the Army Corps of Engineers will start the processing. Add another 90-120 days. 

All said though, it could be a shorter process than a lot of short sales and have a happier outcome for the military seller, the buyer and the Realtor.

Bottom line: don't hold your breath and don't hold out false hope.  This ain't gonna be quick and when the final regulations come down, it'll be important to read all the fine print and follow the regs to the letter.