6 Tips for Buying a Home in a Short Sale

By: G. M. Filisko

Published: March 19, 2010

By preparing for a real estate short sale, you can emerge with a great home at a favorable price.

1. Get help from a short sale expert

A real estate agent experienced in short sales can identify which homes are being offered as short sales, help you determine a purchase price, and advise you on what to include in your offer to make the lender view it favorably. Ask agents how many buyers they've represented in short sales and, of those, how many successfully closed the transaction.

2. Build a team

Ask agents to recommend real estate attorneys knowledgeable in short sales and title experts. A title officer can do a title search to identify all the liens attached to a property you’re interested in. Because each lienholder must consent to a short sale, a property with multiple liens, like first and second mortgages, mechanic’s and condominium liens, or homeowners association liens, will be harder to purchase.

A title search may cost $250 to $300 up front, but it can help weed out less desirable properties requiring multiple approvals.

3. Know the home’s fair market value

By agreeing to a short sale, lenders are consenting to lose money on the loan they made to the sellers to purchase the home. Their goal is to keep those losses as low as possible. If your offer is dramatically less than the home’s fair market value, it may be rejected. Your agent can help you identify the price that’s good for you. The lender will determine whether approval is in its best interest.

4. Expect delays

There are two stages to a short sale. First, the sellers must consent to your purchase offer. Then they must submit it to their lender, along with documentation to convince the lender to agree to the sale.

The lender approval process can take weeks or months, even longer if the lender counteroffers. Expect bigger delays if several lienholders are involved; each can make a counteroffer or reject your offer.

5. Firm up your financing

Lenders will weigh your ability to close the transaction. If you're preapproved for a mortgage, have a large downpayment, and can close at any time, they’ll consider your offer stronger than that of a buyer whose financing is less secure.

6. Avoid contingencies

If you must sell your current home before you can close on the short-sale property, or you need to close by a firm deadline, your offer may present too many moving parts for a lender to approve it.

Also, consider ordering an inspection so you’re fully informed about the home. Keep in mind that lenders are unlikely to approve an offer seeking repairs or credits for such work. You’ll probably have to purchase the home “as is,” which means in its present condition.

This article includes general information about tax laws and consequences, but isn't intended to be relied upon by readers as tax or legal advice applicable to particular transactions or circumstances. Consult a tax professional for such advice; tax laws may vary by jurisdiction.

G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who luckily has avoided the need for a short sale on her properties. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.

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Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

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Due Diligence - New Burdens on Buyer’s Agents

January 1, 2011 our world will change. Sellers, buyers and their agents will have new “Offer to Purchase and Contract” forms. Gone will be the contingencies that have added stress to everyone in a residential transaction. A lot of the members of the Neuse River Region Association of Realtors enjoyed a Continuing Education event with Bill Gallagher ( http://www.superiorschoolnc.com/ ). He taught the group assembled the features of the new contract adopted by NCAR.




The new contract will have a new feature called a “Due Diligence” period. This period resembles an option. It differs in that all of the terms of the final contract are included in one document. With an option the buyer gives notice that he will exercise his rights and contracts to close. With our new contract it will be assumed that a closing will occur. The buyer, in this new contract, will have to notify the seller if they do not plan to close. The buyer will use the diligence period to firm up a loan commitment, obtain an appraisal, perform inspections and determine if they want to proceed. The fee to compensate the buyer for this period of time will apply to the purchase price. Like an option fee it will be nonrefundable. A traditional earnest money deposit becomes “at risk” if this date passes and notice is not given for the buyer to withdraw.



This creates a new burden for Buyer’s Agents. The day of the free “look-see” is over. If the buyer determines that it is in their best interest not to complete the transaction money will be lost. If notice is given during the diligence period the loss will be limited to the “due diligence” fee and other expenses that have been prepaid. If the sale does not close after this period the earnest money will also be lost. Buyers will be unhappy if they lose significant sums of money on an incomplete deal. The competent buyer agent will attempt to assist his client to avoid a transaction that fails. The buyer will need to be educated in a variety of subjects prior to making an offer. Guiding them through the mortgage process will be key. It will be essential to have a pre approval from a lender who closes loans on time. Helping clients obtain and interpret the appropriate inspections will be important. Keeping track of the “Time is of the essence” dates will fall upon the buyers agent. Wisdom will need to be exhibited to avoid beginning a purchase on a property that will create appraisal and inspection problems.



I believe a buyers agent who does a good job will enjoy a greater loyalty from the client. It will be a tense time if the buyer decides to walk and absorb a loss. Over all I believe the new contract will cause our industry to become more professional .

by Gary Barker


Gary has been selling real estate in New Bern since 1977.

Visit my website http://www.gary-barker.com/ 

Find the Home Loan that Fits Your Needs

Understand which mortgage loan is best for you so your budget is not stretched too thin.

The basics of mortgage financing


The most important features of your mortgage loan are its term and interest rate. Mortgages typically come in 15-, 20-, 30- or 40-year lengths. The longer the term, the lower your monthly payment. However, the tradeoff for a lower payment is that the longer the life of your loan, the more interest you’ll pay.



Mortgage interest rates generally come in two flavors: fixed and adjustable. A fixed rate allows you to lock in your interest rate for the entire mortgage term. That’s attractive if you’re risk-averse, on a fixed income, or when interest rates are low.



The risks and rewards of ARMs

An adjustable-rate mortgage does just what its name implies: Its interest rate adjusts at a future date listed in the loan documents. It moves up and down according to a particular financial market index, such as Treasury bills. A 3/1 ARM will have the same interest rate for three years and then adjust every year after that; likewise a 5/1 ARM remains unchanged until the five-year mark. Typically, ARMs include a cap on how much the interest rate can increase, such as 3% at each adjustment, or 5% over the life of the loan.



Why agree to such uncertainty? ARMs can be a good choice if you expect your income to grow significantly in the coming years. The interest rate on some—but not all—ARMs can even drop if the benchmark to which they’re tied also dips. ARMs also often offer a lower interest rate than fixed-rate mortgages during the first few years of the mortgage, which means big savings for you—even if there’s only a half-point difference.



But if rates go up, your ARM payment will jump dramatically, so before you choose an ARM, answer these questions:



How much can my monthly payments increase at each adjustment?

How soon and how often can increases occur?

Can I afford the maximum increase permitted?

Do I expect my income to increase or decrease?

Am I paying down my loan balance each month, or is it staying the same or even increasing?

Do I plan to own the home for longer than the initial low-interest-rate period, or do I plan to sell before the rate adjusts?

Will I have to pay a penalty if I refinance into a lower-rate mortgage or sell my house?

What’s my goal in buying this property? Am I considering a riskier mortgage to buy a more expensive house than I can realistically afford?

Consider a government-backed mortgage loan

If you’ve saved less than the ideal downpayment of 20%, or your credit score isn’t high enough for you to qualify for a fixed-rate or ARM with a conventional lender, consider a government-backed loan from the Federal Housing Administration or Department of Veterans Affairs.



FHA offers adjustable and fixed-rate loans at reduced interest rates and with as little as 3.5% down and VA offers no-money-down loans. FHA and VA also let you use cash gifts from family members.



Before you decide on any mortgage, remember that slight variations in interest rates, loan amounts, and terms can significantly affect your monthly payment. To determine how much your monthly payment will be with various terms and loan amounts, try REALTOR.com’s online mortgage calculators.


By: G. M. Filisko


G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who’s opted for both fixed and adjustable-rate mortgages. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics.



Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.


© Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®



Visit my website www.gary-barker.com

8 Tips for Finding Your New Home

A solid game plan can help you narrow your homebuying search to find the best home for you.




1. Know thyself



Understand the type of home that suits your personality. Do you prefer a new or existing home? A ranch or a multistory home? If you’re leaning toward a fixer-upper, are you truly handy, or will you need to budget for contractors?



2. Research before you look



List the features you most want in a home and identify which are necessities and which are extras. Identify three to four neighborhoods you’d like to live in based on commute time, schools, recreation, crime, and price. Then hop onto REALTOR.com to get a feel for the homes available in your price range in your favorite neighborhoods. Use the results to prioritize your wants and needs so you can add in and weed out properties from the inventory you’d like to view.



3. Get your finances in order



Generally, lenders say you can afford a home priced two to three times your gross income. Create a budget so you know how much you’re comfortable spending each month on housing. Don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to investigate financing. Gather your financial records and meet with a lender to get a prequalification letter spelling out how much you’re eligible to borrow. The lender won’t necessarily consider the extra fees you’ll pay when you purchase or your plans to begin a family or purchase a new car, so shop in a price range you’re comfortable with. Also, presenting an offer contingent on financing will make your bid less attractive to sellers.



4. Set a moving timeline



Do you have blemishes on your credit that will take time to clear up? If you already own, have you sold your current home? If not, you’ll need to factor in the time needed to sell. If you rent, when is your lease up? Do you expect interest rates to jump anytime soon? All these factors will affect your buying, closing, and moving timelines.



5. Think long term



Your future plans may dictate the type of home you’ll buy. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in the home for five to 10 years? With a starter, you may need to adjust your expectations. If you plan to nest, be sure your priority list helps you identify a home you’ll still love years from now.



6. Work with a REALTOR®



Ask people you trust for referrals to a real estate professional they trust. Interview agents to determine which have expertise in the neighborhoods and type of homes you’re interested in. Because homebuying triggers many emotions, consider whether an agent’s style meshes with your personality. Also ask if the agent specializes in buyer representation. Unlike listing agents, whose first duty is to the seller, buyers’ reps work only for you even though they’re typically paid by the seller. Finally, check whether agents are REALTORS®, which means they’re members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®. NAR has been a champion of homeownership rights for more than a century.



7. Be realistic



It’s OK to be picky about the home and neighborhood you want, but don’t be close-minded, unrealistic, or blinded by minor imperfections. If you insist on living in a cul-de-sac, you may miss out on great homes on streets that are just as quiet and secluded. On the flip side, don’t be so swayed by a “wow” feature that you forget about other issues—like noise levels—that can have a big impact on your quality of life. Use your priority list to evaluate each property, remembering there’s no such thing as the perfect home.



8. Limit the opinions you solicit



It’s natural to seek reassurance when making a big financial decision. But you know that saying about too many cooks in the kitchen. If you need a second opinion, select one or two people. But remain true to your list of wants and needs so the final decision is based on criteria you’ve identified as important.


By: G. M. Filisko
G.M. Filisko is an attorney and award-winning writer who has found happiness in a brownstone in a historic Chicago neighborhood. A frequent contributor to many national publications including Bankrate.com, REALTOR® Magazine, and the American Bar Association Journal, she specializes in real estate, business, personal finance, and legal topics
<><><><><>Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

© Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Visit my website www.gary-barker.com

Negotiate your best house buy

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  Negotiate Your Best House Buy

  Keep your emotions in check and your eyes on the goal, and you’ll pay less when purchasing a home. Read

Visit houselogic.com for more articles like this.

Copyright 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

Visit my website www.gary-barker.com