Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Columbus Short Sales: If You Bought At The Market’s Peak, Does It Make Sense To Short Sale Your Home?


Columbus OH – Many homeowners bought their home at the peak of the market. In the hardest hit areas, they paid $500,000 for homes that are not selling for $250,000 (or even less.)

Their home is costing them $4,000 a month. (That is the total after paying property taxes and insurance.) Renters have moved into the neighborhood and are paying less than $2,000 to rent a comparable home.

It just seems like these homeowners are getting an unfair deal all around. Should these homeowners dump their homes in favor of a lower priced home?

Some people say No! “That is breaking your word. If everyone did it, just think of what would happen?” they say. There is a little problem with that logic.

Many of those homeowners see everyone else taking advantage of the system. It has gotten so bad that in some neighborhoods most of the homes have been abandoned.

Why shouldn’t a homeowner do what is best for themselves? After all, they can save hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Let’s say they short sale their home with a $500,000 mortgage, rent for 2-3 years, and then buy later. But, what if home prices appreciate over the next few years?

If they are already upside down by 50%, then it still makes financial sense to short sale now. If the housing market has improved by 5% a year, their $250,000 house will have increased to $289,400 in three years.

That is still much less than $500,000. In addition, they will save even more on interest payments. I am not recommending they do anything.

I just want to lay out the benefits and leave the decision up to them. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 614-741-2495.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Columbus loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank.

Thanks for reading this, Robin Lemmons.

Robin is a Real Estate Team at Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

Phone: 614-741-2495 


Email: robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com

A Zest For The Best

View My homes for sale at www.rickandrobin.com

Columbus Loan Modification Help, Columbus Short Sales, Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Rick & Robin Lemmons, Coldwell Banker King Thompson, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorsed by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Robin's personal views and do not reflect the views of Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

This information on Columbus Short Sales: If You Bought At The Market’s Peak, Does It Make Sense To Short Sale Your Home? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Columbus Short Sales: Are Lenders So Desperate They Will Accept Any Offer?


Columbus OH – Have you heard the following myths about short sales? 

Myth #1: You can buy short sales for dirt cheap and then turn around and resell them for a profit.

Myth #2: Foreclosures, Short Sales, and Bank Owned Homes can be bought for 30 to 50 cents on the dollar with no money down.

Myth #3: Lenders will accept any short sale offer even if it is for only 50% of what the home is worth. After all, they don’t want a foreclosure on their books.

These myths are just not true. Lenders are willing to foreclose on properties. They have entire departments to handle the sale of properties that they have foreclosed on.

Another foreclosure is nothing to fear. At the same time, they do prefer short sales. Short Sales are known to reduce a lender’s loss compared to a short sale.

They have high paid actuaries who have run the numbers and proved that to be the case. That means they take a pragmatic approach on short sales.

They want to make sure that the short sale offer isn’t lower than what the home would sell if they foreclosed on it. That is why they order an appraisal before accepting the offer.

They won’t agree to a sale if the offer is for substantially less than the appraised value. If the offer is 5% lower than the appraisal, then they might accept it.

If it is substantially less, then they will ask the buyer to raise their offer to the appraised value.

Another thing lenders check before approving a short sale is that they aren’t approving a short sale for someone that is able to afford their home.

They don’t want to lose money on a short sale when they can make money when the person repays the loan. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 614-741-2495.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Columbus loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank.


Thanks for reading this, Robin Lemmons.

Rick & Robin Lemmons is a Real Estate Team at Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

Phone: 614-741-2495


Email: robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com

A Zest For The Best

View My homes for sale at www.rickandrobin.com

Columbus Loan Modification Help, Columbus Short Sales, Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Rick & Robin Lemmons, Coldwell Banker King Thompson, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorsed by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Robin's personal views and do not reflect the views of Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

This information on Columbus Short Sales: Are Lenders So Desperate They Will Accept Any Offer? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Friday, July 25, 2014

Columbus Short Sales: How To Get A Short Sale Lender To Waive Deficiency Clause


Columbus OH – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from John. Here is John's Question.

"I just received a full price offer on my house. My main concern is that I don't get stuck having to pay off the deficiency. I have a first and 2nd with my bank and owe $270K on the home. The buyer's loan is also with the same bank.

How can I work this out so that I can walk away from this without owing any money? Is it even possible with such a large difference between what the house is worth and what is owed? John.”

Here is the answer to John's Question: John, you need to read thru the short sale approval letter. See if it contains any language like “Payoff”, “Forgiven”, or “agrees to release the debt.”

Have an attorney read it over to make sure that it says the debt will be released. If it doesn’t say the debt will be released, then here is how you can re-negotiate for them to issue a complete release.

1. Request that the deficiency be waived.  Tell the lender you will not short sale the property unless they give you a complete release.

2. Show proof that you cannot afford the deficiency payment. A debt from an absolutely broke person is worthless.

3. Show proof that the lender will net more money from the short sale compared to a foreclosure. This is your agent’s job to do. They will put together a calculation showing how much the lender is netting from the short sale, and project what they would net from a foreclosure.

If you cannot prove that your income doesn't cover your bills, then you may need to look into other avenues. You can look into getting a forensic loan audit to see if the lender broke any lending laws on the loan. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 614-741-2495.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Columbus loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank.
 

Thanks for reading this, Robin Lemmons.

Rick & Robin Lemmons is a Real Estate Team at Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

Phone: 614-741-2495


Email: robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com

A Zest For The Best

View My homes for sale at www.rickandrobin.com

Columbus Loan Modification Help, Columbus Short Sales, Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Rick & Robin Lemmons, Coldwell Banker King Thompson, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorsed by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Robin's personal views and do not reflect the views of Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

This information on Columbus Short Sales: How To Get A Short Sale Lender To Waive Deficiency Clause is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

My Realtor hasn't talked to me about a Short Sale & I'm not even getting a showing. I think I might be upside down. What do I do?


Columbus OH – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Carol. She is having a hard time selling her home.

“I have had my house for sale for a little while, but it hasn’t sold. No buyers have come to look at it. At first I thought the price was fair. But, now that no one has come to see the home, I am beginning to realize that I am upside down.

My realtor hasn’t talked to me about a short sale. What should I do?” Carol asked.

Here is what I would recommend to her. First, talk to your current agent about a short sale. She might be uncomfortable with bringing it up.

Short sales are a sensitive issue. Some people get offended when you ask them about a short sale. It doesn’t look like that is the case with you.

Tell your agent that you think you might be upside down. Ask them what they think they can realistically sell the house for in today’s market.

Then, ask them for a “Net Sheet.” This is a sheet that details all of the costs and fees associated with selling a home.

The fees and costs are subtracted from the sales price to give you the net amount you will receive from the sale. Compare that number with your mortgage payoff.

If it is less than what you owe your lender, then you will need to consider a short sale. Ask your agent if they can handle your short sale.

If not, then you may need to hire someone else. Short sales are a lot more complex than a normal real estate transaction.

Make sure the person you interview has closed short sales in the past and knows what they are doing.

Ask them how the short sale process works. Have them explain it to you. This will help you determine if that person can do the job for you. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 614-741-2495.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Columbus loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank.


Thanks for reading this, Robin Lemmons.

Rick & Robin is a Real Estate Team at Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

Phone: 614-741-2495


Email: robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com

A Zest For The Best

View My homes for sale at www.rickandrobin.com.

Columbus Loan Modification Help, Columbus Short Sales, Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Rick & Robin Lemmons, Coldwell Banker King Thompson, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorsed by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Robin's personal views and do not reflect the views of Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

This information on My Realtor hasn't talked to me about a Short Sale & I'm not even getting a showing. I think I might be upside down. What do I do? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Monday, July 21, 2014

Columbus Short Sales: Getting divorced, neither can afford, what to do?


Columbus OH – In this case I would recommend you sell the house. Now, if you are reading this blog, then you must be researching a short sale.

Which means that you are probably upside down on the home. You have three options.

Option #1: Let your lender foreclose on the home. You just stop making the payments and surrender the home to your lender.

Option #2: Short Sale the house and get the debt wiped out. A short sale offers the following benefits over a foreclosure.



Issue: Can I get a Future Fannie Mae Loan?

Foreclosure: The current Fannie Mae Guidelines require you to wait 5-7 years before you can buy another home with a Fannie Mae Loan. Most other banks and lenders have the same or even stricter procedures. 

Short Sale: If are back on your feet 2 years after the short sale, then Fannie Mae guidelines allow you to get a loan from them.  
  

Issue: Can I get a future loan from any mortgage company?

Foreclosure:  Any future application will require you to answer the question, "Have you had property foreclosed upon or given title or deed in lieu thereof in the last 7 years?" you'll have to answer that question yes.

Short Sale: You can state “No” because you short sold your home. You only have to say yes if the bank completes the foreclosure.

Issue: Credit Score Impact.

Foreclosure: Your score is typically lowered by 250 to 300 points, or even more. This often stays on your credit score for over 3 years.

Short Sale:  Only late payments show up. After a short sale, the mortgage is normally reported as "paid in full, settled." This lowers your score as little as 50 points if all other payments are being made. Oftentimes, this is off your credit report in as little as 12 months.

Issue: Will I owe the bank any money for the shortfall?

Foreclosure: Many lenders take 12-18 months to foreclose upon a property and resell it. This dramatically increases the loss and makes any deficiency judgment potentially bigger.


Short Sale: Few lenders ask for a promissory note on a short sale.  As an example, on one short sale, the bank lost over $120,000. They settled with the seller for $25,000 to be repaid over 15 years with zero interest. The seller's monthly payment was only $138,89. You can often even negotiate and have the promissory note waived. 

Option #3: Rent the property. This is a good way to earn some extra money. However, if you are upside down, then it is more than likely that the rent will not cover the mortgage. That means someone will have to write a check each month covering the loss. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 614-741-2495.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Columbus loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank.

Thanks for reading this, Robin Lemmons.

Rick & Robin Lemmons is a Real Estate Team at Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

Phone: 614-741-2495


Email: robin.lemmons@kingthompson.com

A Zest For The Best

View My homes for sale at www.rickandrobin.com.

Columbus Loan Modification Help, Columbus Short Sales, Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus Short Sale Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor. Columbus OH Short Sales. Columbus Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Rick & Robin Lemmons, Coldwell Banker King Thompson, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorsed by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Robin's personal views and do not reflect the views of Coldwell Banker King Thompson.

This information on Columbus Short Sales: Getting divorced, neither can afford, what to do? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.