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Beat the clock – Short sale sellers tick down to December 2012

By
Real Estate Agent with CENTURY 21 Award

 

Beat the clock – Short sale sellers tick down to December 2012

If you are underwater in your mortgage (you owe more than your home is worth if you were to sell it today), or if you know someone who is, please let them know that they have alternatives to foreclosure. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act that eliminates the tax on forgiven debt is due to expire in December of 2012. This may sound like a long time away, but when it comes to selling a home through short sale it’s a tight timeframe.

Short sales still take on average between 3 to 6 months for banks to approve. That does not include listing and finding a qualified (and patient) buyer. It is also not uncommon for short sale buyers to walk away mid-transaction. A seller must leave enough time to find a new buyer if it becomes necessary.

Here is a sample timeline for selling a house through short sale with one buyer.

Prepare home for sale

3 weeks

Work with Realtor to price and list house & implement first stage of marketing plan

3 weeks

Secure a qualified buyer

2-5 months (average Days on Market for a SFH in San Diego is currently 136 days)

Send offers to bank and wait for approval – buyer conducts all inspections

1 month

Lender processing & closing

2 to 4 months

 

 

Prep to closing timetable

6 to 11 months

 

Posted by

Valarie Swanson
REALTOR®
DRE #01803552

Century 21 Award


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Marge Piwowarski
Phoenix AZ Horse Property - Phoenix, AZ
Phoenix AZ Horse Property, LLC

Great blog with a realistic timeline.  People don't want to think it will take so long.

Sep 17, 2011 06:01 PM
James Muhammad
RE/MAX Champions - Upland, CA
RE/MAX Vision

Wow! Tick tock is correct! This is a very, very good post and information. I will be sharing this with my co-workers, office and clients. Thank you!

Sep 17, 2011 06:06 PM
Ronald DiLalla
Century 21 Discovery DRE 01813824 - Anaheim, CA
No. Orange Cty Real Estate

Hi  Valerie,  yes time moves very quickly...thanks for the reminder.....and let's hope it is extended.

Sep 17, 2011 07:09 PM
Mykel Martin
(909) 476-9600 ~ WeLoveSellingRealEstate.com - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Realty Masters & Associates

Valerie, I appreciate your sharing this information. I like how you have provided for all possible contingencies in your timeline.  That makes it very realistic and easy for a Seller to see just how little time a year can be.

Thanks, I will definitely share this with my Sellers to motivate them into action. 

Sep 17, 2011 07:22 PM
Ralph Gorgoglione
Metro Life Homes - Palm Springs, CA
California and Hawaii Real Estate (310) 497-9407

Valarie,

Thanks so much for pointing out the Debt Forgiveness act and the link.

Sep 17, 2011 07:26 PM
Pacita Dimacali
Alain Pinel - Oakland, CA
Alameda/Contra Costa Counties CA

Val

It's important to keep pointing out to distressed property homeowners that the Mortgage Debt Forgiveness Act has a limited timeline. And as more and more short sales come on the market, we have to encourage property owners to take action or it may be too late.

And hopefully, the banks will get their act together and streamline the process. i haven't noticed any improvement, even with the introdcution of the Equator system where we have less live interaction with the negotiators.

Sep 17, 2011 08:54 PM
Valarie Swanson
CENTURY 21 Award - San Diego, CA
San Diego Real Estate

Thank you for your comments. I hope the Act is extended as well, but I'm not encouraged at this point in time. So frustrating that the Equator system hasn't helped more.

Sep 18, 2011 05:07 PM
Melanie Ross
Coldwell Banker Solano Pacific - Benicia, CA
Benicia CA & Vallejo CA Real Estate, 707-319-2828

Great information that is easy to see it takes time to do a short sale.  and who knows about the debt relief act and if it will be extended.  Hoping it will be!

Sep 21, 2011 04:36 AM