subject: Short Sale Closing Incentive [print this page] The Federal Government is planning to announce news plans to increase and broaden mortgage relief measures in the upcoming days. The new efforts will likely include short sale incentives.
We all know what a short sale is- but we have to take a step back and realize that shortsales are a pretty new phenomenon. Just a decade ago there was no term for it, and even just a few short years ago a bank would much rather let a house go into foreclosure than to try to get it into a short sale. It makes sense from the bank's point-of-view: often times the bids on short-sale houses come in much below what the house was originally worth, or what the homeowner owes on the mortgage. Also, it makes sense because buyers don't generally want to have to go through the extra months that are required for special transaction paperwork and whatnot, especially since there's a higher chance that it might end up falling through.
From the seller's point-of-view, it's definitely a better option than a foreclosure, though the difference between the escrow an the mortgage balance may be taxable.
So to help all three of these parties come together and make short sales less damaging for all involved, the U.S. Treasurey is going to roll out a fifteen-hundred dollar incentive at closing of short sales, and will pay the lender a thousand dollars as well. Under the Home Affordable Refinance Program, also known as HARP, trying to refinance has been the main option for relief programs. This has been fairly effective, but in some cases homeowners just can't afford to keep paying for a house, even if they reamortize or refinance.
A word of warning: various consumer reports say that before you start getting into a short sale, you should make sure you're aware of how your lender plans to report it to credit bureaus and whether or not the discrepancy will be taxable. You should probably consult with a tax specialist before getting too far in over your head. And make sure you check with a real estate agent about the available government incentives. Basically, you want as much expert advice as possible, people who are familiar with the ins and outs of the transaction. Those with the proper experience actually conducting these sales will be in a much better position to help you take advantage of the government incentives.
by: Randy Scott
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