Investing In Short Sales

By Thierrie Anderson

Buying short sale dwellings may make today's investors a lot of money if they understand how to complete them properly. Investors familiar with short sales know the benefit of being able to buy a property at fire sale prices. For those investors with the patience and fortitude to buy a short sale property, the payoff may be immense.

With this in mind, how does one go about purchasing a short sale property? Initially, to define a short sale in real estate, it is just purchasing a property for less than is owed. For an investor the visible benefit of this type of investment property is understandable. Please keep in mind however, that the upside for the institution is low so there are a number of requirements that need to be met in order to complete a short sale. Because of this fact, dealing with a lender when buying a short sale requires a fair amount of work and patience.

While going through the short sale process, you must be aware of how each participant will act through the process Obviously the property owner is a big factor in the transaction and may be going through some financial turmoil which is leading to the need for a short sale. As the initial part of the due diligence process, be sure that the property owner is willing to go through the short sale process.

Be sure that you get the property owners approval, but you will need to contact the loss mitigation department of the institution in order to start the process. Because the lender is in business to make cash, you will need to make a compelling instance in order for them to agree to a short sale. Most lenders will only agree to short sales if the property is facing foreclosure or non-payment of the loan. With that in mind, the onus is on you to demonstrate that the deal is in the institution's best interest.

Now that you appreciate the motivations of the two players, buying a short sale is simply a matter of satisfying their two unique needs. To create a short sale package that you will use to plead your instance to the bank, work with the owner to craft a letter and substantiation that shows an inability to continue to pay the mortgage. Locate any and all areas of disrepair on the property and take pictures of them, and get an appraiser to come out and give an appraisal based upon the lowest marketable value of the home.

Now you only need to agree on a purchase price with the current property owner and submit it along with the package to the institution. Put forward your purchase request along with the short sale package to the lender and gently push it through the approval process. It the proposition is approved, your purchase of the short sale goes through. If not, simply modify your proposition and submit it again. - 31862

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