Developments in Short Sales
The U.S. Treasury Department's long-awaited guidelines to streamline Short Sales, announced Monday, will have a significant impact on families facing foreclosure, according to RE/MAX International Chairman and Co-Founder Dave Liniger.
The Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA), part of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), provides financial incentives and simplifies Short Sales procedures by setting limits on the time it takes lenders to respond, freeing borrowers from debt and capping claims of subordinate lenders.
The Treasury's announcement comes on the heels of more than a year's work by RE/MAX leadership to persuade federal lawmakers to address the need for a simpler Short Sale process.
"While the plan doesn't include all of our suggestions, we feel it's a big step in the right direction," Liniger says. "These new policies will make Short Sales much more attractive to our clients and much easier for us to complete."
With unemployment over 10 percent and millions of adjustable-rate mortgages primed to reset next year, a "tsunami" of distressed properties could be on the horizon, Liniger says. The new guidelines, as well as a growing acceptance by lenders and second-lien holders, give homeowners a better chance of closing a Short Sale rather than losing their house to foreclosure.
Here are some of the program's key guidelines (download the program's full details in the HAMP Supplemental Directive):
- Lenders must respond to Short Sale requests within 10 business days of receipt of the offer package.
- The seller will be released from all liability for repayment of the mortgage debt.
- Subsequently, the seller is entitled to a relocation incentive of $1,500, which will be deducted from the gross sale proceeds at closing.
- The lender will be paid $1,000 to cover administrative and processing costs for a Short Sale or a deed-in-lieu.
- The property must be listed with a licensed real estate professional who does regular business in the community where the property is located.
- The lender is prohibited from requiring, as a condition of approving the Short Sale, a reduction in the agreed-upon real estate commission.
- The investor will be paid a maximum of $1,000 for allowing a total of up to $3,000 in Short Sale proceeds to be distributed to subordinate lien holders, or for allowing payment of up to $3,000 to subordinate lien holders.
For additional information on how to short sale your Northern Virginia home please visit http://www.NOVAForeclosureRelief.com. Please contact Kim Darwaza of RE/MAX Allegiance at 703-856-2254, your Northern Virginia Short Sale Expert, to discuss any questions regarding short sales in Northern Virginia. Kim Darwaza is a Realtor with the CDPE designation which is specific to the listing and selling of Short Sale properties.
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