1099: Back to Basics - a Review of Short Sales - 05/04/08 12:42 PM
Short Sale Primer - Back Room Lender Decisions
A Primer -
Short sales are nothing new.  When I represented a national lender for all of their foreclosures in the State of Florida several years ago, we negotiated "loan workouts" which are now called "short sales".  Since they have been around so long, I did some digging with my old pals that were the executives I worked with in the loan workout and REO department of this national lender (the lender has since been merged into Bank of America).
I found one in Atlanta, and another in Washington.  Our discussion about short … (66 comments)

1099: THE BANK CHANGED THE LOCKS! - 05/04/08 06:25 AM
There is discussion on Active Rain from time to time on whether in a short sale it is advisable to move out of the house.
The real issue is the clause in the mortgage that says the bank can change the locks on the house if it is "abandoned".  The exact phrase from the Fannie Mae Single Family mortgage form says,
9.  Protection of Lender's Interest in the Property and Rights Under this Security Instrument.  If (a) Borrower fails to perform the covenants and agreements contained in this Security Instrument, (b) there is a legal proceeding that might significantly affect Lender's interest in … (27 comments)

1099: SHORT SALE PRIMER - REVIEW OF THE BASICS - 05/03/08 02:09 PM
Short Sale Primer - Back Room Lender Decisions
A Primer -
Short sales are nothing new.  When I represented a national lender for all of their foreclosures in the State of Florida several years ago, we negotiated "loan workouts" which are now called "short sales".  Since they have been around so long, I did some digging with my old pals that were the executives I worked with in the loan workout and REO department of this national lender (the lender has since been merged into Bank of America).
I found one in Atlanta, and another in Washington.  Our discussion about short sales showed that … (1 comments)

1099: SHORT SELLER STILL MUST DECLARE INCOME ON SALE! - 04/18/08 12:25 AM
The Mystery of income you can't spend - but do you have to declare it?
When DON'T you have to report forgiven debt (from a short sale, deed in lieu or foreclosure with release from the lender) as income?
One of the biggest issues that potential short sellers and those in foreclosure ask me is whether they have to get a 1099 for any forgiven debt from their lender.  Without a single exception so far, every debtor (borrower) has assumed that if they can avoid a report from their lender that they are being forgiven a portion of the mortgage debt, … (7 comments)

1099: SELLERS ALWAYS HAVE INCOME FROM A SHORT SALE / DIL / AND MAYBE A FORECLOSURE - 04/16/08 10:20 AM
CANCELLATION OF DEBT INCOME - WHAT IF THERE IS NO 1099?
When DON'T you have to report forgiven debt as income?
One of the biggest issues that potential short sellers and those in foreclosure ask me is whether they have to get a 1099 for any forgiven debt from their lender.  Without a single exception so far, every debtor (borrower) has assumed that if they can avoid a report from their lender that they are being forgiven a portion of the mortgage debt, they will not have to report any income nor pay any income tax on that forgiven debt.
While … (49 comments)

1099: OBSERVATIONS ON A WEEK AT WORK - A RAMBLE - 03/28/08 02:01 PM
What a week!
Mortgage foreclosure White Knights targeted by the Florida Attorney General (no surprise there - just why did it take so long?!!!)
CNN special report on the Mortgage Meltdown and it being second only to the Great Depression.
Record foreclosures expected to continue to break records through 2008 and into 2009.
But heck - its Friday night and after working 5 - 19 hour days in a row I'm going to take Saturday off!
From the perch here in West Palm Beach things look like the stock market - volatility galore.  Usually this means that there is a big change on the horizon. The … (0 comments)

1099: FILING FORM RELEASED BY IRS FOR DEBT RELIEF ACT - 02/21/08 05:47 PM
New IRS Form for Filing for Debt Relief
The form for filing for tax relief under the Mortgage Forgeiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 has been released and is available online.  Click HERE for the form.
Information about the relief available - which is available only to primary residences that incurred the tax event - was set forth in my article about the legislation that went into effect on January 1, 2008.
Consult your tax professional when filing this form!
Remember - the Act gives no relief to investors and the relief is limited to losses under the amount of the funds borrowed for the initial … (4 comments)

1099: WHAT DO I DO? -- I'M UNABLE TO PAY MY MORTGAGE - 01/12/08 01:46 PM
Most Common Question: "What do I do? - I can't pay my mortgage"
As an attorney, I receive plenty of telephone calls and visits from people that are no longer able to pay their mortgage on their home or investment property.  They all have endless questions and usually tell me they are getting all sorts of advice that they don't like.  They come to me to find their BEST solution, and I suppose they hope I am some sort of magician that can create an answer that they like.
The analysis of the problem is the first order of business.  These questions revolve … (12 comments)

1099: Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007- Another Look - 01/01/08 04:13 AM
I have been getting a lot of calls and emails about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007.  The new law became effective today, and applies to 1099's on short sales or foreclosures retroactive to January 1, 2007.
Before the Act was passed, one of the rewards for a homeowner helping the lender keep the home out of foreclosure and minimizing the enevitable monetary loss to the lender, was that the homeowner at the end of the process was saddled with a huge income tax bill compliments of a Form 1099 unearned income statement.
For detailed information and the text of the … (2 comments)

1099: Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007- Another Look - 01/01/08 04:11 AM
I have been getting a lot of calls and emails about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007.  The new law became effective today, and applies to 1099's on short sales or foreclosures retroactive to January 1, 2007.
Before the Act was passed, one of the rewards for a homeowner helping the lender keep the home out of foreclosure and minimizing the enevitable monetary loss to the lender, was that the homeowner at the end of the process was saddled with a huge income tax bill compliments of a Form 1099 unearned income statement.
For detailed information and the text of the … (2 comments)

1099: MORTGAGE RELIEF ACT - CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO PRIMARY HOMEOWNERS - 12/24/07 06:40 AM
On Thursday the President signed into law - effective New Years Day, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007.
For those of you that aren't up to speed on the downside of a short sale, if the bank lends you $100 and you end up only having to pay back $75, then by keeping the $25 you have to declare that $25 as ordinary income.  You see, borrowing money is not taxable as income.  But if you don't have to pay it back, then it is no longer a loan, and instead it is income, just as if you (oh my … (7 comments)

 
Richard Zaretsky, Florida Real Estate Attorney (THE ZARETSKY LAW GROUP - Board Certified Real Estate Atty and AUTOMATED LAND TITLE COMPANY)

Richard Zaretsky

Florida Real Estate Attorney

West Palm Beach, FL

More about me…

THE ZARETSKY LAW GROUP - Board Certified Real Estate Atty and AUTOMATED LAND TITLE COMPANY

Address: 1615 Forum Place, Suite 3A, West Palm Beach, Fl, 33401

Office: 5616896660 x 107

Mobile: (561) 329-2279

Legal true life experiences, general observations and commentaries for Realtors, Lawyers and Mortgage Brokers - also see our Palm Beach County Short Sales group blog.
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