Thursday, Mar 11, 2010
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Minnesota Short Sale Help Looking for a Short Sale Real Estate Agent in the Twin Cities?
Minnesota Short Sale Help If you live in the Twin Cities metro area of Minneapolis and St. Paul and have questions about short sales and foreclosure prevention, you should speak with a  Minneapolis short sale REALTOR® who can advise you of your options.  Not all licensed real estate agents or REALTORS®  in Minnesota have experience negotiating short sales; in fact many local real estate agents won’t work with a client if a short sale negotiation is required as part of the sale.  Agents have their reasons, a short sale negotiation on a Minnesota property can be very time consuming for the agent and some REALTORS®  just don’t want to deal with all of the red tape involved. 
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Looking for a Short Sale Real Estate Agent in the Twin Cities? Finding the right Minnesota real estate agent can be a difficult task.  Hundreds of thousands of home owners in Minneapolis, The Twin Cities, Minnesota and across the country are in need of advice and guidance from experts in the short sale industry.  Minneapolis and Minnesota real estate has changed dramatically over the past five years and many local real estate agents have not changed with the times.  We have reviewed the sales backgrounds for thouands of Minnesota real estate professionals; many who claim to be short sale experts to connect you with proven industry leaders who can help you understand the pro’s and con’s of short sales. 
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Short Sale Process in Minnesota

If you own a home in Minnesota and are thinking about a short sale the first thing to do is contact an experienced short sale agent.    Here is what to expect.

1.  A Long Wait. The best short sale REALTORS® in Minnesota may be able to speed up the process by utilizing their loss mitigation contacts at banks such as Wells Fargo and ASC, but you still need to be prepared to wait.  The banks are processing millions of short sale requests and it takes a long time to process all of the paperwork.

2.  Documents, Documents and more Documents. Your lender will require a lot of documentation regarding your financial situation before they will consider a short sale of your Minnesota condo, single family home, town house or investment property.  Be prepared to produce tax returns, bank statements and pay stubs.  They will want a letter explaining why they should consider a short sale called a “hard-ship letter” as well as an itemized list of your monthly expenses.  In addition you will need to provide an authorization letter to your Minnesota REALTOR® which will enable him to negotiate the sale with your bank.  They’ll want a copy of your listing agreement; purchase agreement, a bank approval letter from the buyer showing that they have been pre-qualified to purchase the property.  The list goes on…  Your Minnesota short sale expert will provide you with a complete list of everything required.

3.  Multiple Buyers.  Due to the length of time involved with obtaining approval from the lender it is very common for the buyer to lose patience and cancel their purchase agreement.  A good Minnesota REALTOR® will have back up buyers ready to step in pick up where the original buyer left off.

4.  Tax Consequences. Your Minnesota short sale professional will be able to discuss some of the potential tax consequences of a short sale.  The tax consequences will vary depending on your unique situation and will vary depending on if the property you sold was your primary residence or an investment property.  Although your agent will provide you with some of the general rules it is important that you consult your accountant regarding tax implications of a short sale.

5.  Legal Issues. As hard as your agent may try to negotiate with your bank, it is not always possible to completely limit any recourse your bank may have in collecting a deficiency for the remaining balance they are owed.  If you have only one mortgage you don’t need to worry; your bank will not be able to come after you for a deficiency.  Typically the issue arises with a second and/or third mortgage.  Let’s assume the following scenario: You have a first mortgage for $200,000 and a second mortgage for $80,000.  Your Minnesota real estate agent finds a buyer willing to pay $150,000 for the house.   If the first mortgage agrees to a short sale, they will not allow you to pay anymore than $2500 to the second mortgage; some won’t allow more than $1000.  In our example we will eliminate closing costs, real estate commissions, etc. for the sake of simplicity.  The first mortgage receives $147,500 and the second mortgage receives $2500.  Because the second mortgage received such a small percentage of the total amount owed, they are not happy.  They may decide to pursue legal action to collect the remaining balance owed.  If you are sitting on some cash, your real estate agent may be able to negotiate a settlement to eliminate any future financial liability to your second mortgage by offering them between 10% – 20% of the amount they are owed as a settlement.   If you pursue this option be sure to consult with a tax professional.

The Importance of Using a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home

Many homeowners incorrectly believe that they can successfully sell their home without using the help of a Minnesota real estate agent.  However, many homeowners spend hundreds of dollars trying to sell their property on their own to no avail.  As a result, these individuals often suffer from undue stress and frustration and will end up turning to a Minnesota realtor at the end of the day.  You can avoid these pitfalls by using a realtor from the very start.

Trained, Licensed & Experienced

A Minnesota real estate agent is required to accumulate a certain number of hours before they can take their real estate exam.  The skills and knowledge that they acquire can directly contribute to the success of your property listing.  A Minnesota realtor is also required to continue their education, which allows them to stay up-to-date on real estate matters. 

Using someone who is well-experienced in the real estate market may allow you to sell your home faster and for more money.  Many people do not realize the funds that the average homeowner throws away on a real estate deal when they try to sell their home on their own.  A Minnesota realtor may be able to assist a homeowner in getting more money for their property, as they will properly price your home and will use their skilled negotiation tactics to get you the highest offer.  Their expertise can get you to the closing table successfully.

Understands the Housing Market

A Minnesota real estate agent works day in and day out in your specific area.  They know the pertinent trends that they have to pay special attention to and know how to evaluate market data.  This helps to properly list and market your home. 

Is Familiar with Effective Marketing Channels

A Minnesota realtor will know what forms of advertisement will work for your particular home.  They have listed hundreds of homes and are familiar with the most effective marketing channels out there.  No time will be wasted in getting you the foot traffic that you need to get your home sold.

Has the Right Connections

Getting prospective buyers to show up at your doorstep is important and a Minnesota real estate agent can assist you with that task.  They have multiple connections in the real estate market that can lead to quality referrals and a signed contract.  A Minnesota realtor with great rapport and proficiency is an invaluable asset to you.

Gets the Job Done

Once you hire a Minnesota real estate agent, you can rest easy knowing that your property is in good hands.  They will handle all of the paperwork, phone calls, appointments, marketing and negotiations on your behalf.   This means that you can go on about your daily business without worrying about having the time to do all of this on your own.  Getting the job done right is a top priority for a Minnesota realtor and they will work hard to meet this goal.  Hiring a real estate agent is the best decision that you can make.

 

Short Sales in Minneapolis

  • Minnesota: Seller’s Pros and Cons of a Short Sale
  • Minneapolis Short Sales
  • Why you Need a Minnesota Short Sale Expert
  • Short Sale Questions

The scenario has become all too common. The Minnesota home you bought for $300,000 is now worth only $225,000. You are in what professionals in real estate call an “upside-down house” – you owe more on the mortgage than the house is now worth. If you cannot ride out the current storm financially, you may be considering a short sale to avoid foreclosure.

A short sale is the sale of a house at or just below market value that falls short of the balance due on the mortgage. The lender takes a loss, but not as much as a foreclosure process. You take a loss as well – you walk away with no money earned from the deal – but in many cases you are free of the debt, if you hired an experienced short sale agent. A short sale is not always the best course for everyone. You will need expert advice to decide, but here are some basic pros and cons of a short sale.

Pros of a Short Sale on your Minneapolis Home:

• You are relieved of paying overblown monthly mortgage payments.
• In some cases, the lender may forgive the difference in debt between what you still owe and the final selling price.
• You are spared the lengthy and traumatic foreclosure proceedings.
• Your credit score could be less damaged than if you had gone through foreclosure – depending on the lender’s actions.
• You can re-qualify for a new mortgage more quickly (about two years) than you would after foreclosure (about three to five years).
• You are more likely to escape bankruptcy.
• If the short sale occurs between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009 you will not be taxed on the debt forgiveness amount.
• If you are not able to pay your mortgage premiums, or work with the lender to lower monthly payments, a short sale can be the best case scenario, even though it means losing your home and your investment.

Cons of a Short Sale on your Minneapolis Home:

• The lender is not obligated to grant a short sale.
• You must show proof that you are no longer able to make your mortgage payments, and the proof must be reasonable. The lender will not approve a short sale if you gambled away your savings. A few examples of hardship that a lender will see as legitimate are illness, divorce, or a job loss.
• The lender will make sure you do not have any recourse – savings accounts or other assets – which may help pay off your debt. It’s not fair to walk away from your debt because you don’t like high payments and you don’t want to deplete your nest egg to pay them.
• You don’t have to be in default of your loan to be approved for a short sale, but it helps, if nothing else than to prove you can’t make the payments. If you are in default, you may have less time to jump through all the necessary hoops. A good short sale agent will negotiate for more time, and lenders often relent in hopes of recouping some of the loss.
• A short sale is anything but short, and can be stressful as you wait for weeks for the lender to respond. The response time depends on how quickly you put together the necessary papers, how adequately you provided the right information, and the lender’s ability to reach your file – along with a backlog of many others in your situation. You need nerves of steel.
• Lenders are notorious for not communicating enough about the approval process for a short sale.
• If your home has liens, second mortgages, or a home equity line of credit, each lender will have to be consulted for approval – which takes considerable time.
• Once the lender approves the short sale, a successful transaction depends on a reasonable offer from a buyer, and their readiness with an approved loan.
• Because the lender is losing money on the deal, they might require that the realtor or broker take a smaller commission. They also will probably not approve payment of closing costs, which might put a deal with a buyer in jeopardy.
• The lender may require you to sign a promissory note for the debt forgiveness in order to approve a short sale.
• The lender may pursue repayment for the debt forgiveness after the short sale goes through.
• Your credit score could take just as hard a hit as it would if you went through foreclosure. Consult legal and tax advice if salvaging your credit score is the only reason for a short sale.
• You could be taxed on the debt forgiveness if the property sells for more than 2 million, or is not your primary residence. After December 31, 2009, unless a new law for tax relief on debt forgiveness is passed, the debt forgiveness is seen as taxable income and you will have to pay taxes at the normal rates – which could be significant. Consult a tax professional.

A short sale is a difficult process with many details the average homeowner is not aware of.  If you are facing financial trouble and selling your home is necessary, consult professionals who are experienced and have a history of successful short sales.

Many home owners in Minnesota have heard the term “short sale” when referring to a house that was sold for less than what was owed to the bank or mortgage company.   For most people a short sale is preferable to a foreclosure; more and more Minnesota home owners are looking for short sale experts in Minnesota to guide them through the process of negotiating discounted payoffs and lien releases from banks.  Short sales can be negotiated from local Minneapolis banks including TCF Bank and Interbank as well as large national banks and mortgage companies such as Wells Fargo, ASC, EMC, Homecomings, Associated, and Aurora.

So, you’re probably wondering why would a Minnesota bank or national lender agree to accept less than what you owe them as payment on the loan.  The simple answer is, “What choice to they have?”  With literally millions of condo’s, town homes, single family homes, and investment property around the country and in Minnesota “upside down” or heading toward foreclosure, a bank, like any other business simply looks at their options and selects the one that they believe will most positively affect their bottom line.

The best source of free advice regarding short sales in Minnesota are real estate agents, better know as REALTORS®.  A Minnesota REALTOR® that specializes in short sales can answer all of your questions and help you develop a strategy to sell your house and negotiate the short sale with your lender.  The majority of Minnesota real estate agents have minimal experience negotiating short sales, so be sure to ask your Minneapolis agent how many short sales they have closed.  If they say one or two, keep looking until you find someone who has done at least 10 deals.  I’ve worked with some of the best short sale agents in Minnesota, so if you’re looking for a recommendation let me know.

A short sale negotiation can take between six and twelve months.  I know it sounds crazy but with millions of home owners contacting their banks for loan modifications and short sale negotiations, the banks are completely overwhelmed.

Think you can contact just any Minnesota real estate agent to assist you with a short sale?  Think again. Negotiating a short sale is different than traditional real estate and working with a Minnesota short sale agent is essential.  I’ve heard from a number of people who made the mistake of working with a real estate agent without short sale knowledge and it was a mess.  Here are some examples of what can happen:

“I ended up at the closing table and was expected to cover $6000.00 in back taxes.  I thought my agent has already negotiated this with the bank.“

“My agent didn’t tell me that I might still be liable for a deficiency balance on my second mortgage.  Six months later my bank sued me.  I felt like my agent didn’t have any idea what was going on.”

“My agent had never done a short sale deal before and we had multiple delays because he didn’t submit the correct paperwork to the bank.”

“The bank foreclosed on my house.  I learned from a friend of mine who used a short sale expert that his agent was able to stall the foreclosure by five months.  He really worked the bank and was able to buy the time needed to close the deal.”

Q: Do I need to be behind on my mortgage to negotiate a short sale on my house in Minnesota?

A: No.   Contrary to what many people believe many banks will still negotiate a short sale even if you are current on your mortgage.  Obviously, they will be more motivated if you’ve missed payments but it is not a requirement.

Q: I’ve heard a short sale will destroy my credit.

A: Your credit score is based on a variety of factors.  I’ve dealt with some short sale experts in Minnesota who have successfully negotiated short sales for their clients with no missed payments.  The result on the client’s credit score was essentially zero.  Missed payments are the primary issue affecting credit score.  If you wait too long too try to negotiate a short sale and you end up in foreclosure; the credit consequences will be far more severe.

Q: I’ve heard a short sale can take up to a year.  Is this true?

A: It is possible for a short sale to take up to a year depending on the banks involved.

Q: Can my bank sue me for a deficiency if I negotiate a short sale on my house in Minnesota?

A: The agents I’ve dealt with try extremely hard to negotiate the debt so that the client doesn’t have any further financial liability.  If you only have one mortgage on your Minnesota home you can pretty much be assured that you won’t have any future financial liability associated with the property.  The challenge typically is when a client has two or three mortgages on the property.  It is best to discuss your situation with a Minnesota short sale expert to help you develop a plan to deal with your lenders.  I’ve dealt with some of the best short sale real estate agents and brokers in the Minneapolis and St Paul area and surrounding suburbs.  If you would like a referral, please contact me.

Q: I waited too long lost my house in foreclosure and now the second mortgage is suing me for a deficiency.  Now what?

A: We don’t give legal advice, however some of our clients have had luck negotiating the debt with a lump sum payment of between 10% and 20% of the balance owed.  Another option is always to file bankruptcy.  The best thing to do is consult an attorney.

Q: Does a short sale cost me any money?

A: No.  Your Minnesota short sale REALTOR® will negotiate the commission with your bank.  You won’t be expected to come to closing with any money.