Special offer

Are Lenders Playing Us For Fools ?

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Legacy

I recently read an article about the state of the "Short Sale / Foreclosure" market and while it appears that the banks are pushing forward to get these homes off their books the reality seems quite different. Ask any Realtor who has had to work with a loss mitigation representative from the bank on how difficult it is to get a real person on the phone or how long they have had to stay on hold waiting for a rep and one might think that the Banks could care less about moving destressed properties. No one is denying that the process of a Short Sale is time consuming and involves cooperation from many parties but there is a hint of foot dragging from some lenders.

I myself was working with a cash buyer who was trying to purchase a pre-foreclosure home in South Orlando and experienced a very frustrating process. It took almost 60 days just to get an answer on our offer and once we did hear something from the bank we continued to get the run-around. Needless to say my Buyers moved on to another property and actually got a better deal.

Im sure that if these lenders want to clear their portfolio of bad loans they could implement a better system to streamline these foreclosures. We hear day in and out how many foreclosures are out there and getting worse by the day. And yes, I know that this flood of foreclosures has hit the banks like a tsunami, but these are the same people who created the problem. There are buyers out there who will purchase these properties but if the process is difficult, they will move on to something else. If Banks truly want to fix this mess, then now is the time to step up and take the lead. Otherwise, we may see this market drag on for years.

Jason Romrell
Business Attorney and Success Advisor - Los Angeles, CA
It's miserable, even from the "legal" side of things trying to work with these folks...at least most of them.
Oct 29, 2007 07:44 AM
Matthew J Blum - (retired from the business)
Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Steve, Unfortunately their is no standard throughout the industry. It does vary from Lender to Lender.  Short Sales and Foreclosures really take a lot of time for the Realtor's and that is why I advise my clients if they are really interested in going that route they should seek someone who specialize's in that type of purchase. 
Oct 29, 2007 07:58 AM
Rich Alpers
Colorado Private MLS - Denver, CO
When I was actively selling I was fortunate not to have to deal with many short sales or foreclosures, but when I did -OUCH! I have a colleague who lists foreclosures, and over the past year the banks she works with have started offering either 2% or 2.5% co-op fees. As a result, showings on their properties have slowed to a trickle, and they're upset with her! You are so right, there must be a better way! I'm not an expert about banking, but you would think that a bank or lender saddled with lots of foreclosed homes would form an emergency task force, consult with realtors about how to get them sold quickly, and make some changes. I've always been told that banks hate to own real estate. They sure don't act like it.
Oct 29, 2007 08:00 AM
Vincent McKamy
Samson Properties - Fredericksburg, VA
Realtor Fredericksburg Virginia

I had a recent transaction with a bank that took them 6 weeks to respond to an offer my clients made.  We we're getting this house for a steal.  The only problem was it was a short sale and the owners where still living in it, after we did the home inspection things started to disappear.  The current owners didn't know what happened with the stuff.  Well it all ended up blowing up because the current owners refused to move out and or sign any paperwork.  It ended up after all of this that the owners wanted to be forclosed on due to the fact that they would have to pay taxes on the difference between our offer and what they owed the bank.  So you never know if they are going to go until you are at the closing table.

Good luck everybody 

 

Oct 29, 2007 08:04 AM
Chris and Berna Sloan
Group 1 Real Estate - Tooele, UT
Tooele UT

Steve... You are so right. After seeing how Banks are handling their REOs I certainly don't want them investing my money for me.  They are inept, lazy. disorganized, and thats on their best days. I am sure that someone will say I am painting with a broad brush and they aren't all like that.  I have not seen the exception in 20 years.

The primary lenders in these transactions need to show some leadership and make things happen.  When property values were increasing every day, I could see their point. (I didn't like it but I could see it) Now they have no point, just arrogance.

Oct 29, 2007 08:14 AM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

I did a national talk show about this back in September and pointed out that the banks are complaining about how bad the foreclosure rate is, but refuse when they are given option to keep from taken the home back, they just won't help!

They need to help themselves before anyone else can help them! It is like giving change to a person with a hole in their pocket, it just disappears.

Oct 31, 2007 05:09 PM
Eric Kodner
Madeline Island Realty - La Pointe, WI
CRS, Madeline Island Realty, LaPointe, WI 54850 -
I submitted a great offer to Wells Fargo on a foreclosure and it got passed around between a bunch of twenty year-olds in the residential loan department for over two months!  My buyer finally got frustrated and bailed out.  I told the rep at Wells to keep their foreclosure.  Times must be great if the banks want to sit on these for months on end!
Oct 31, 2007 05:13 PM