"Short Sales"

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money.jpg“Short sales” deserve attention as we continue focusing on opportunities in a down real estate market. As you probably know, a short sale is where the current lender agrees to release property from the lien of the mortgage in exchange for less than the outstanding mortgage debt. Shorts sales gain popularity as owners owe more on their outstanding mortgage than their property is currently worth.

The devil is in the details with commercial and residential short sales. All parties to the transaction (seller/borrower, lender, buyer, guarantor(s)) should consider how to protect themselves with written agreements. This article will examine some of the critical terms that should be reduced to writing when navigating a short sale.

Essential Contract Terms

A short sale comes to life when a contract for sale is executed by the seller/borrower and buyer.  At a minimum, the contract should clearly state that the transaction is a short sale and provide Continue Reading Short Sales: Don't Sell Yourself Short

I came across an article by Lora Shinn entitled “5 Buyer Mistakes in a Short Sale.” Number 3 on Shinn’s list is “ignoring legal and insurance information.” Although I agree with the author’s list, the list focuses more on the physical attributes of a short sale property than legal issues (specifically title issues) that are often overlooked until they become a problem — either just before closing when such problems can cause further delay, or worse yet, after closing when they can become a legal and financial nightmare. I would like to expand on the buyer’s mistake of “ignoring legal information” while being blinded by the seemingly “good deal” they are getting.Continue Reading Short Sales and Judgment Liens: Unforeseen Issues