FACEBOOK KILLED MY SHORT SALE!
If you are considering a short sale of your home, it's very important to understand that you can't know the buyer. If you live in a small town where everyone knows everyone else and is Facebook friends, it may be a good idea to hide your profile from showing up on friends' friend lists or even to deactivate your Facebook completely during the process - but only do this if it isn't fraudulent! I know I personally use Facebook as my address book and have a ton of acquaintances on there in addition to my friends.
And what about Google+? People can add you to their circles even if you don't add them! Make sure you watch to see who is adding you!
FACEBOOK KILLED MY SHORT SALE!
There is this form that must be signed with most short sales called an "Arms Length Transaction affidavit". Basically, it says that the buyer and seller don't know each other. The form says it with a lot more finesse, but the basic message is that the buyer and seller didn't "cook up a plan" regarding the purchase of the home.
Seems silly, right?
Well, It's not, or at least it didn't start out that way....
Picture it: A family is living in a home that they bought 4 years ago when values were at "WOW" prices. Since then, Hubby took a cut small in pay and the wife lost her job. She decided to stay at home with kids rather than working to pay for daycare. They can make their payments, but they are eating mac-n-cheese more often than they care to. They try to refinance to lower their payment and find out that they owe $15,000 more than what the house is worth in today's market.
While bemoaning the fact that they are going to have to do some belt-tightening, they decide to talk to their parents for advice. Together they decide that Mom and Dad will buy the house on a short sale for $20,000 less than what they owe on it, the kids will make the payments until they can repair their credit from the short, then buy it back from Mom and Dad. They never have to move and they own the house for $20,000 than they originally paid for it.
That's is called Fraud. Basically the house didn't change hands and the bank is out $20,000.
The Arms Length Transaction Affidavit was born! The bank will short the property, but the banks feels that the owners have to have a little discomfort too.
Now, PICTURE THIS:
A short-sale seller receives an offer from a buyer that she doesn't know. While waiting on the approval process, the buyer stalks the property (as buyers often do). Once day while driving by, the seller is outside and the buyer stops. The buyer and seller start talking and realize that they like each other. They are both thrilled to have met and are happy!
The short sale gets approved and everything moves towards a closing. Two weeks before closing you get an email from the bank that says that the short sale is rejected due to "possible fraudulent activities".
You call the negotiator, send them an email and dial the "help" (term used loosly) line to speak with "Betty" from Malaysia to find out what the heck is going on.
All kinds of horrible things run through your head: The seller lied on their original Loan app; The seller was involved in Money laundering or tax evasion (Can't do a short sale if you were convicted of a felony involving money); The buyer has purchased 30 homes in the last 2 months; You did something horribly Wrong.....
Finally, "Betty", the bearded, sweater wearing man from Malaysia reads the notes on the computer screen and tells you that the closing department discovered that.....
*GASP*
the buyer and seller are friends on Facebook. Therefore, this is not an arms length transaction and is rejected. Active Foreclosure is immediately initiated.
"Betty, You got to be kidding me!"
The moral of this horrible, but true story: Check your Social network friends and tell your sellers and buyers to check theirs. Apparently the bank does. It could be the difference between life and death of your short sale.
Happy Real-Estating!
Brenda Noffert
Associate Broker, GRI, ITTI, CCREC
Realty World Alliance
Wichita, KS
316.871.4586
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