Is A Bank Short Sale My Best Choice?

By Anthony Mauwer

A bank short sale is definitely not the only way out of a foreclosure, but it has many advantages that far outweigh other alternatives. A borrower facing this type of situation is already struggling under heavy financial constraints and may not be prepared to deal with the complexities of a short sale. The important thing to understand is that if approved for a bank short sale, the owners could find themselves in the best position possible to buy another home in the future.

The hardest thing for a homeowner to do is admit the fact that we may not be able to save our home, but if we cannot save it, our primary goal should be to avoid foreclosure. Accepting a bank short sale in lieu of foreclosure is not the only way out - but it may be the best way out. A foreclosure could end up with us having wages garnished, other properties seized, being sued, and harassed for years to come. Not to even mention the damage to our credit. If handled by an expert, a bank short sale could settle all of these issues right now.

For the average borrower, the complex issues of a bank short sale cause high anxiety. The new terminology we experience, the lawyers, tax forms, and all of the new issues that arise can be quite overwhelming. This is in addition to our other financial difficulties. No matter how stressful things may seem to us, we cannot forget that every party involved in this short sale process is trying to recoup as much money as they can. Don't allowed yourself to be bullied. Bankers love to drop in last second requests. Be prepared for them.

By having expert legal advice from the outset, we can avoid many of these last minute surprises. Don't be fooled into thinking you can complete this process without expert advice. A bank short sale involves many aspects of law relating to taxes, lending practices, and real estate. Be sure that you have access to professionals in "each" of these areas. There are services offered by teams of attorneys, accountants, and real estate professionals that will help you complete the entire process - and then get their fees paid by the lenders. As with any service, there are good ones and bad ones - so be careful - but there are some excellent services out available.

A bank is losing money with a short sale and are not necessarily enthusiastic about doing them. They avoid a foreclosure - yes, but their attitude is not to be considered enthusiastic. They can be difficult to deal with at times because they're trying to get back as much money as they can. For this reason they might not always move as fast as we want - although we know they can. Patience is a valued virtue here - so practice it and keep cool. If you've ever had to work with the government you know exactly what dealing with these banks will be like.

The bank short sale is stressful on all involved, but if we complete it successfully, we'll definitely be the winners in the end. Hopefully, we'll come out the other side with no unpaid taxes, no bankruptcy and no foreclosure. This is why a short sale is so much better than foreclosure. It's a tough process - yes, but in the end we'll still be in a great position to purchase another home. Completing the process prepares us for our new future. A bank short sale is not the only way out - but I'll take it over a foreclosure any day of the week. - 23196

About the Author:

Anthony Mauwer's free advice has helped many borrowers successfully complete a bank short sale. Be sure to check out his short sale blog for excellent tips, advice, and information on how the bank short sale can best work for you.