Charleston Short Sales: Homeowner Takes On Lender And Wins!

Charleston SC – According to the Philadelphia Inquirer [1], Patrick Rodgers of West Philadelphia was able to "file a foreclosure action against Wells Fargo.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

I bet there are a lot of homeowners facing foreclosure that would love to do the same thing. You work so hard to negotiate a reasonable loan modification in order to keep your home.

But, no one at the lender seems to care. It seems the big lenders are able to live in a protective bubble. They can foreclose on paid off homes and face no consequences.

If they average American did that, they would probably face jail time. So, it's nice to finally see someone turn the tables on a lender.

Here is the story according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.

It's not clear how this story will turn out, but right now Patrick Rodgers is living a pay-back fantasy probably shared by millions of struggling U.S. homeowners.

Frustrated by a dispute with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and by his inability to get answers to questions, the West Philadelphia homeowner took the mortgage company to court last fall.

When Wells Fargo still didn't respond, Rodgers got a $1,000 default judgment against it for failing to answer his formal questions, as required by a federal law called the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act.

And when the mortgage company didn't pay - does something sound familiar? - Rodgers turned to Philadelphia's sheriff.

The result: At least for the moment, the contents of Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, 1341 N. Delaware Ave., are scheduled for sheriff's sale on March 4 to satisfy the judgment and pay about $200 for court and sheriff's costs.

Rodgers has even written his own headline: "Philadelphia homeowner 'forecloses' on Wells Fargo."

Has he really? Not quite. But Rodgers, who lives in the city's Wynnefield Heights section, won at least a momentary upper hand in a fight with Wells Fargo that began nearly two years ago.

Before you leap to conclusions, let's get a few things straight.

Rodgers isn't unemployed, or a deadbeat. He's a music promoter who owns Dancing Ferret Concerts - if industrial, electronic, or goth is your sound, maybe you've been to one of his gigs. He says he's paid all he owes under the terms of his seven-year-old mortgage.

And there's no reason to think that Rodgers' house is "underwater" - worth less than he owes, in banker jargon that has sadly entered Americans' everyday lexicon.

Actually, it was the value of Rodgers' home that apparently sparked the dispute - not what he paid, or what it would fetch if he wanted to move, but what it would cost to fully restore the house if, say, it was struck by a meteorite and burned to the ground.

Rodgers owns a three-story, six-bedroom Tudor on a beautiful street not far from City Avenue. He paid about $180,000 for it in 2002, and for years handled his mortgage without dispute.

But in mid-2009, his insurer delivered troubling news: His homeowners premium would more than double, because Wells Fargo was insisting that he insure the home's full replacement value - about $1 million worth of coverage, the insurer told him.

Rodgers loves his home, neighborhood, and adopted city - he moved here about 17 years ago, after growing up as a child of American parents in the Bahamas.

But he knew that he paid a fraction of what his home would command elsewhere, such as across City Avenue in Bala Cynwyd. That's one advantage of living, as he says, "a short clip away from the wrong side of the tracks."

In such situations, most lenders require a homeowner to insure for a total approximating a home's market value - a good thing for large swaths of Philadelphia, where a home's market value may have little relation to what it would cost to rebuild stone by stone or feature by feature.

All in all, I think it's a great story. I'm sure a lot of homeowners fantasize about doing the same thing. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at . 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 (843) 608-9520

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. .



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Jeff Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co.

References

1. http://articles.philly.com/2011-02-15/business/28536236_1_mortgage-fees-full-replacement-value-default-judgment

This information on Charleston Short Sales: Homeowner Takes On Lender And Wins! is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Charleston Short Sales: The Average Homeowner Can Live 492 Days Rent Free

Charleston SC – According to the Wall Street Journal [1], the average homeowner with a home in foreclosure hasn't made a payment in 492 days. What's even crazier is that those homes are still in the foreclosure process.

That means that a homeowner can live rent free for even longer than 492 days. How long could they potentially live rent free?

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

In some states like Florida and New York, we estimate that they can live rent free for two years. We have even seen cases where homeowners were able to live rent free for three years.

If you are facing foreclosure, then I am sure that is good news. But, I'm sure you are wondering why it is so long. Let me explain.

The entire foreclosure system is backed up. There are several parts that make up the "foreclosure system." The first part is the bank's foreclosure departments

These departments coordinate everything in the foreclosure process. The second part that is backed up are the foreclosure lawyers. There are only so many lawyers trained in foreclosure work.

The big law firms that specialize in foreclosures are now handling 2-3 times as many foreclosures compared to a few years ago. The last part that is clogged is the courts.

The courts are not going to have judges start processing foreclosures unless that judge is properly trained in foreclosure legalities. So they are scrambling to find judges experienced with foreclosures.

This is turning into a spiraling problem. Two years ago many homeowners would have looked down on someone who took advantage of the system.

Today those same homeowners are emboldened by seeing other people do it with no consequences. That is why I think the problem is going to take a few more ways to work itself out. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 725-1065

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Gainesville loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 725-1065. JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Jeff Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co.

This information on Charleston Short Sales: The Average Homeowner Can Live 492 Days Rent Free is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

What You Should Look For In A Buyer Of Your Charleston Short Sale Property

Charleston SC – Short Sales can be tough. Many buyers don't understand the process and think that since it is a buyer's market, then they set the rules. That's not the case.

You, the seller set the rules. After all, you still own the property. But, more importantly, you must set the rules for offers. If you don't then you dramatically reduce your odds of successfully short selling your property.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Here is what you should think about before you take your home off of the market.

1. You should only accept and work with one offer at a time. If you accept more than one offer at a time, then buyers get mad.

The primary offer might get angry because you accepted a backup offer. In addition, multiple offers confuse everyone involved including the short sale lender.

2. You should make sure the buyer can get financed for a loan. That means the buyer should give you genuine proof of that, whether a pre-approval or pre-qualification.

3. We recommend that the buyer inspect the home before the sales contract is signed. If any unexpected problems come up (and they do), then you can adjust the offer price that is submitted to the short sale lender.

This saves from having to negotiate the price again if a problem is found after the short sale is approved. Besides, the lender is more likely to accept a lower price if you send them a copy of the inspection.

4. The buyer agrees to wait the necessary 60-90 days for an answer on the short sale. That time will depend on the lender. Some lenders are fast and some are slow.

5. The buyer should put a reasonable deposit in escrow to keep them on board for the necessary time required for the short sale to be approved.

These are what we have determined to be necessary for a successful short sale. If you don't have a serious buyer then you are wasting your time and your agent's time as well.

Many buyers and their agents think that since a property is a short sale, then offers can be treated very casually. This only hurts the home sellers trying to avoid foreclosure when the buyers can't get a loan or back out after the inspection.

Helping someone avoid foreclosure is serious business. That's why we treat it as such. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Jeff Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co.

This information on What You Should Look For In A Buyer Of Your Charleston Short Sale Property is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Charleston Short Sales: Is this a reasonable offer from a buyer of a short sale property?

Charleston SC – Some buyers think that since it is a buyer's market, then they can make any crazy demand of a seller. And they can't understand when the seller isn't excited by their lowball offer.

Here is an example of a recent story where this happened. A buyer makes an offer on a short sale.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

1. The buyer puts no money in deposit for the home. In other words, they have about zero risk. (Meanwhile, the seller is still risking foreclosure.)

2. They are putting $150,000 down on the property, but won't bother putting any more than $1,000 in escrow and only after the short sale is approved.

3. They are only allowing 30 days for short sale approval. (News flash: Most short sales take an absolute minimum of 60 days to be approved.)

4. They are demanding the seller take the property off the market and not accept backup offers.

Is this a little one sided or what? If you are a short sale seller, then they agent representing you should ask for a better offer. You need the buyer to have a little skin in the game.

If not, then you dramatically reduce the odds of successfully short selling your property. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Jeff Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co.

This information on Charleston Short Sales:Is this a reasonable offer from a buyer of a short sale property? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Charleston Short Sales: What is a BPO?

Charleston SC – If you have been reading about short sales, then you have probably heard the term "BPO" and wondered what it meant.

BPO stands for Broker's Price Opinion. A Broker's Price Opinion is when a licensed real estate agent gives their opinion of the value of a property.

That value is what the lenders use to process the short sale. Most short sale approvals or denials are based off of that opinion of value.

The agent goes thru all the recent sales of properties similar to the property they are valuating. They want to find the 3 closest comparable sales.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

The more recent a sale is then the closer of a comparable it is considered to be. The same goes for properties that are close geographically (in the same neighborhood is preferred) and close in size and number of bedrooms or baths.

Most agents are not appraisers. Because an appraiser's license is required to appraiser properties they give their opinion of the value. Now, I'm sure you are wondering, " Why do the lenders use these rather than an appraisal?"

Here is why. Many people think they are more accurate of a valuation than an appraisal. Agents are more in tune with exactly what a property can sell for.

After all, whatever opinion of value they put for a property is usually supposed to be backed up later by a sale for that price. That causes agents to be more accurate with their valuations.

That accuracy is why the lenders use their valuations rather than an appraisal. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Jeff Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co.

This information on Charleston Short Sales: What is a BPO? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Would Dave Ramsey Love A Charleston Short Sale?

Charleston SC – You might have heard of Dave Ramsey. He has a popular radio program where he talks explains the benefits of getting out of debt.

Dave is a zealot for the debt free life. "You don't need to see the inside of a restaurant unless you are working there", he will tell people in financial trouble that call his show.

What does Dave recommend people do to get out of debt? Reduce spending, eat at home, pay off high interest debt first, etc.

Here is why I think Dave would love a short sale. A short sale is a great way to reduce debt. Where else can you wipe out $100,000, $200,000, and even more in debt? That will make up for eating a lot of rice and beans.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Do you have a house that is underwater to the tune of $50,000 or more? Try a short sale. It's a great way to erase all that upside down debt.

You can rent another home for 2-3 years until the market has bottomed out. Then, you can buy at the bottom. Not only will you save on a lower house price, you will also save on the interest over the life of the loan. Did you know that on the average 30 year mortgage, you pay as much in interest as you pay for the house?

If you wiped out $100,000 in upside down debt, then that means you actually wiped out another $100,000 in interest. I think Dave would be proud. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Jeff Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co.

This information on Would Dave Ramsey Love A Charleston Short Sale? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Charleston Short Sales: Why Could The Realtor You Hire Kill Your Short Sale?

Charleston SC – The biggest reason people short sale their house is to avoid foreclosure. They cannot afford the house anymore and the bank has said they will foreclose soon.

If the short sale is not successful, then their lender will foreclose on the house. We at the Stop Foreclosure Institute have successfully closed short sales for several years.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

We’ve made it our business to know what we are doing. But, we see many agents that have no clue about short sales (or the short sale process) listing short sales.

This gives short sales a bad name. Many agents have been involved in short sales where the listing agent didn’t know what they were doing.

Because of that the short sale wasn’t successful and that agent and their customer wasted time. In the future they are going to think twice before showing a short sale. This hurts other short sale sellers.

It really gets on my nerves that people who don’t know what they are doing can ruin it for everyone else. If you are thinking about short selling your home, make sure you hire a competent, experienced short sale agent.

(A competent, experienced agent will be successful at 80-90% of all the short sales they take on.)

Here are a few of the things that agent should avoid.

1. Submitting multiple offers to the short sale lender. Only the best offer should be submitted. A confused mind says no. Most short sale negotiators have between 50 and 200 short sale files on their desk.

To ask them to weigh the benefits of 3 short sale offers on just one of those 50 files is probably more than their brain can handle. No, I’m not saying their brain is stupid.

It’s just that a human brain can only handle so much information before it stops working.

2. Realtors submitting incomplete paperwork to the short sale lender. There is a method to follow. Every good short sale realtor understands stacking order, and the importance of easy to read paperwork.

3. Submitting low offers to the lender. All this does is waste time. If a lender is not likely to accept the offer, then don’t waste 45-60 days negotiating it with them.

Get an offer at (or near) fair market value and submit that to the short sale lender. That helps avoid wasting everyone’s time.

Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Charleston Short Sale Realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Jeff Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co.

This information on Charleston Short Sales: Could The Realtor You Hire Kill Your Short Sale? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

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

Charleston SC – 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 Chase and owe 270K on the home. The buyer's loan is also with Chase.

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.”

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Here is the answer to John's Question: John, you need to read thru the short sale approval letter. See if is 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 you 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 never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. JeffCook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Charleston Short Sale Realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Jeff Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co.

This information on Charleston 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.

Charleston Short Sales: What is a Short Sale and How Does It Work?

Charleston SC - I am often asked, "What is a Short Sale and how does it work? Because short sales are a recent phenomenon people don't really understand them.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

A short sale is when someone is selling their house, but the sale will not bring enough money to pay off their mortgage. Many sellers are experiencing this problem due to the recent drop in home prices.

Here is why a lender will accept a short sale. If you can no longer afford your home, then the lender will have to sell it one way or another.

They would rather have you sell it today versus selling it later after foreclosure. They have learned from experience that a short sale nets them more money.

A foreclosure can take 12-18 months to complete. Many homeowners move out before the foreclosure is complete. The home sits empty for six months, a year, and sometimes even two years.

As a result, many homes have problems with mold, rot, and other repairs. This is why everyone knows that bank owned homes often represent a bargain.

The buyer of a bank owned home often has to make some repairs. New paint, carpet, and miscellaneous items add up fast. In addition, a bank owned home that needs repairs won't qualify for the most popular financing programs.

As a result, bank owned homes usually sell at a substantial discount. The lenders have realized this after years of processing foreclosures. That is why they approve short sales.

However, they don't approve every short sale. They have a process in place to reject the short sales that will lose more money than a bank owned sale.

We will submit all the paperwork to the lender and work the file thru their short sale process. You simply allow us to show the house and provide us with any needed documentation.


Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your lender. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Short Sale Realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co. This information on What is a Short Sale and how does it work is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Charleston Short Sales: Why Banks Reject Short Sale Offers and what to do about it

Charleston SC - Banks reject short sale offers for a number of reasons. The biggest reason is because they feel the property is worth X and the price is below that number.

For example, you might have a buyer willing to pay $119,000 for a short sale. The bank orders an appraisal.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

The appraisal comes back at $135,000. Usually the bank will turn down the offer and ask the buyer to increase their offer. Often times the buyer will agree to pay the higher price.

Here is another reason short sale offers get turned down: The lender doesn't have a complete short sale package. Maybe the seller's last 2 bank statements are missing.

Or, a page is missing from the sales contract. In that case, the necessary paperwork will be sent to the lender.

Reason #3: The offer doesn't meet the short sale guidelines. Every lender has different guidelines for whether they will accept or reject a short sale.

For example, the owner of the loan might be Fannie Mae. Fannie Mae has specific short sale guidelines. Unless the short sale offer meets those guidelines, it will be rejected.

Reason #4: Unrealistic expectations from the lender. Every lender has a specific employee who negotiates and processes the short sales. That employee is called a short sale negotiator.

This employee has a lot of discretion over what they will and will not approve. We have seen those employees make up their own guidelines.

They decide that Fannie Mae's short sale guidelines aren't good enough. So they demand more money from the buyer. Or they want the seller to give up their entire life's savings.

If the seller or buyer do not agree, then they will turn down the short sale offer. Never mind that they do not own the loan. If the short sale is turned down then the owner of the loan, Fannie Mae, risks losing even more money.

Most short sales that are foreclosed upon end up selling as a bank owned property. The Boston Consulting Group recently did a study on short sales. They studied what a lender would net when selling a home either as a short sale or a bank owned property.

They discovered that banks lose twice as much money on bank owned sales versus what they lose on short sales. What should your agent do with a short sale negotiator at the bank who doesn't follow the short sale guidelines?

We gently remind them of the loan owner's guidelines. They usually approve the file. If that doesn't work, then we will notify their supervisor or someone higher up at the bank.

That solves the problem most of the time. But, if it doesn't, then we contact the owner of the loan directly and let them know what is happening. That is the basis of what we do to get your short sale approved and help you move on with your life.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your lender. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Short Sale Realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co. This information on Why Banks Reject Short Sale Offers is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

How can I short sale when my lender was so mean to me?

Charleston SC - If you have ever gotten behind on payments, then you know how mean the debt collectors can be. The constant barrage of threats, demands, and phone calls usually proves to be too much for most people. As a result they give up.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Debt collectors are mean. But, it is a tough job (although I have no sympathy for them.) I heard of a guy who recently got a job as a debt collector.

He quit after a couple of weeks. It was just too harsh and depressing. They get on the phone every day for 8 hours of abuse. Some of the people they call scream at them.

Very few people are nice. It's probably very depressing because you hear about other people's problems all day long. They become cold and callous as a result of the work.

As a result, they take their frustrations out on the people they call. If you are trying to negotiate a loan modification or short sale, do not work with the debt collection people.

They don't want you to modify your loan or keep your home. Why is that? Because they are paid bonuses on the money they collect.

They don't make a thing if you short sale or modify your loan. The debt collection people are an ugly, dull, almost useless tool. The lenders use them in a half hearted attempt to get you to pay.

You see lenders don't want you to short sale or modify your loan. They just want you to catch up your payments and start paying on time again. That way they don't lose any money.

The debt collectors are the first line of offense. "Sic em", they say to the debt collectors in the hope that you will pay up. Fortunately, when we negotiate a short sale we talk to a different group of people.

These people work in a different department. They are not callous and cold. They don't hate their job. They get paid substantially better than the debt collection folks. For most it is an actual career.

These people have training. They approve and deny short sales based on set criteria. Their job is to process the short sale, not collect money. They know that most people who are short selling can't pay. So they don't bring it up.

We do all the negotiations and discussions with them. That means when you start the short sale process, you don't have to talk to the people at your lender anymore. We take over and handle everything for you.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your lender. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Short Sale Realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co. This information on How can I short sale when my lender was so mean to me is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Charleston Short Sales: Another Short Sale Success Story

Charleston SC - The Stop Foreclosure Institute is closing another short sale tomorrow. The sellers had a job transfer out of state. They were short selling an FHA loan with a second mortgage. The short sale was fairly simple because FHA's short sale guidelines.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Here was how these sellers benefited from the short sale.

Benefit #1: The sellers were able to walk away with the debt wiped out completely. The FHA short sale guidelines released them from the first mortgage debt.

The second mortgage also gave them a complete release. At first they weren't willing to do that. But, we offered them a little extra money in return for a complete release.

Fortunately they agreed to it. This meant that the sellers were able to completely wipe out a total of $80,000 in upside down debt.

Benefit #2: Limited Tax Consequences. These sellers will only owe taxes on approximately $30,000 of the loss. Why? Because that was around how much money was borrowed on a home equity line.

The Mortgage Debt Relief Act of 2007 states that you will not owe taxes on a loss if you used that money to purchase or remodel your home.

However, if you borrowed and used the money for something else, then you would owe taxes on the loss. You would owe the money whether you short sold, or the lender foreclosed.

This is only my opinion after reading the law. I recommend that you talk to a competent tax professional before making any financial decision.

Benefit #3: The will be eligible to buy another home in 2 years. Current Fannie Mae Rules allow homeowners to buy another home 2 years after a short sale. Compare that with the 5-7 year wait after a foreclosure.

Benefit #4: The sellers paid no money for the short sale. Everything was paid for by the lender. The short sale lender paid the real estate agent, title company, and all the other fees. They can look forward to getting their financial life back on track.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your lender. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Short Sale Realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co. This information on Charleston Short Sales: Another Short Sale Success Story is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Common Short Sale Mistakes and How To Avoid Them. Part Two

Charleston SC - This is a continuation of the last blog post about common short sale mistakes and how to avoid them.

Common Short Sale Mistake #4: Not doing research to find the decision maker on the loan. Most loans are not owned by the lender you are dealing with. In fact, between 60% and 75% of all loans are owned or insured by Uncle Sam.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

50-55% of all loans are owned by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. These two entities are owned or closely controlled by Uncle Sam. In addition, Uncle Sam insures mortgages thru FHA and VA.

In these situations Fannie, Freddie, FHA, or VA make the decision to approve or deny the short sale offer. Let's say that your research shows that FHA insures the loan.

If you are familiar with the FHA short sale guidelines, then you know whether or not a short sale offer will be approved. The same goes with the rest of the loan types. Their guidelines for short sales are easily obtained.

Common Short Sale Mistake #5: Not understanding the short sale process. Most lenders have a similar short sale process.

However, lenders are busy. The short sale negotiator you are working with may have 200 files on their desk. They don't have time to babysit everyone and explain the process.

Make sure the person dealing with your lender is familiar with the process. It can't hurt if they have done short sale with that lender in the past.

Common Short Sale Mistake #6: Submitting low ball offers to the lender. Some buyers think that since a property is a short sale the lender will take any offer submitted. This is not true. Lenders are business people.

They have systems in place to reduce losses. The owners of the loans also have rules about what type of offers to accept or reject.

Before they can approve a short sale the lenders are required to check the home's value. They will hire an appraiser or licensed real estate agent to determine the fair market value.

They do not want to discount to much from the value that person gives them. Some lenders will discount 2-5%. Others will discount as much as 10%. But, they won't accept an offer for substantially less than the fair market value.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.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 (843) 608-9520.

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Charleston Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your lender. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Jeff Cook.

Jeff is a Real Estate Agent at AgentOwned Realty Co.

Phone: (843) 608-9520. jeffcook@JeffCookRealEstate.com.



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

Jeff Cook specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Charleston South Carolina. Charleston Loan Modification Help, Charleston short sales. Charleston short sale realtor. Short Sale Realtor. Charleston SC Short Sales. Charleston Realtor.

Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 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. The views expressed here are Cook's personal views and do not reflect the views of AgentOwned Realty Co. This information on Common Short Sale Mistakes and How To Avoid Them is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.