Foreclosure Alternatives
One of the biggest mistakes some people make at this point is being too
attached to their property. This will cause heartache, heart attacks, and a huge amount of stress.
The following is the most common options someone facing foreclosure can do along with the pros and cons...
Short Sale
If a homeowner owes more on their property than it is currently worth, then they can ask a qualified REALTOR Broker to market and short sell their property.
I will do the negotiation of a short sale with your lender.
A Short Sale requires the property to be on the open market and the homeowner must have a financial hardship to qualify. Hardships can be defined as a change in the financial stability of the people on the loan, between the time the home was purchased and the time of the short sale.
Acceptable short sale hardships include but are not limited to: mortgage payment increase, job loss, cut in pay, cut in hours, unemployment, divorce, excessive debt, forced or unplanned relocation, and more.
* Pros: A short sale allows the homeowner to avoid foreclosure and salvage some of their credit rating. This also keeps foreclosure off the individual’s public record, and in many cases will allow the homeowner to avoid a deficiency judgment.
The Borrower may qualify for another mortgage in as little as 2 - 3 years
(as opposed to 5-7 years for a foreclosure).
* Cons: Short sales can be a trying process in which a homeowner is best served by contracting with a qualified real estate agent to guide the way. You can not short sell your house to a friend, family member, or anyone you know. You cannot collect any money from the short sale of the property unless you do a special short sale known as HAFA Short Sale.
HAFA Short Sale
A HAFA Short Sale - Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives has some different options in a short sale where as the buyer gets up to $5,000 at the close of escrow. A lender will pre price the property for sale on a price that the bank will accept for the short sale.
I believe it might be wise to apply for the HAFA short sale with the bank, but be ready to deny the HAFA portion and see what the bank wants. You have an option ( a small time frame ) to deny the HAFA portion and remain in control.
* Pros: you get up to $5,000 at the close of escrow to help cover moving expenses.
* Cons: Banks generally do not like following government guidelines unless they set it up for themselves. So... lenders tend to have a way of making this short sale far more difficult to do. Generally a lender will pre price the property 10% above market value, killing the option of selling the property and in the contract of the HAFA arrangement you have automatically agreed to do a deed in lieu or voluntarily give up your property in as little as 120 days.
Loan Modification
Homeowners can apply for a Loan Modification of terms to reduce monthly payment. I call this a banks trap. You will be trapped in your home for a long long time. The payments will go up in a few years just after the benefits to short sell go away.
* Pros: Allows homeowner to avoid foreclosure and stay in the home.
* Cons: Your credit report is Dinged quite heavily right away, when you apply for a Loan Modification. Fewer than 10% are granted Loan Modifications. It requires that a homeowner qualify for the new payment and will often require full documentation. The Lender has to be actively pursuing modifications. No lenders are known for giving Principle Loan reduction, so you still owe the same amount plus fees, back interest, etc. This turns most existing loans into a 40 Year loan in which you will be on the hook for and be unable to sell the property at any time until you have positive equity. This could be 10+ or so years. Should you sell at any time after January 2013, if you are upside down by 200,000 and your property sells, it will be like paying taxes on 200,000 of regular income for that year. You Must pay tax on any difference. The IRS and the California Franchise Tax Board will be after you to collect for the rest of your life with penalties and interest, adding each and every day, and Bankruptcy is not an escape for Tax issues. There will be no forgiveness after the end of 2012! Contact a CPA and verify this Tax information.
Reinstatement
A reinstatement may seem like the simplest solution for a foreclosure, if you happen to have thousands of dollars laying around in the bank. The homeowner requests the total amount owed to the mortgage company to date and pays it. This can be done and will reinstate a mortgage up to five or six days prior to the final foreclosure or trustee sale date.
* Pros: Does not require the mortgage company or lender’s approval.
* Cons: Requires that a homeowner be able to pay all back payments, fines and fees. Usually causes people to borrow more money from family or friends to get further into debt.
Forbearance or Repayment Plan
Lets say you were out of work for a couple of months, but now you are working and things are fine. During that couple of months you were unable to pay your bills.
A forbearance or repayment plan involves the homeowner calling the lender and asking to get caught up by requesting a forbearance. Most lenders may do this but they will only do this once and you must have an excuse that is verifiable, such as you were out of work for two months and now you are caught up. Yes it will cost you some money. What doesn't?
Pay back the mortgage company over a period of time. You would be typically making the current mortgage payment in addition to a portion of the back payments they owe. Keep in mind the bank has to approve of this situation.
* Pros: Allows the homeowner to make back payments over time.
* Cons: Requires that a homeowner be in a financial position to pay not only their current mortgage, but also a portion of the back payments owed. Mortgage companies will require a homeowner to qualify with documentation for forbearance.
Rent the Property or Rent out Rooms
We all know renting out the entire property usually will not cover the mortgage payment. In Some cases it may, and making up the difference may not be that difficult for you. I know many have elected to rent out rooms of their home to make up the difference and are doing well with it. There is an adjustment period to get use to one another but this is a very viable option.
If you do not have a hardship for a short sale this may be your best option.
* Pros: Allows you to keep your home.
* Cons: The issues that can arise with a rental property are many, and rent often does not cover the full cost of property ownership and maintenance. Renting a home out to others will cost you more as they are not the owner will not care as much as you do.
Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure
Also known as a voluntary foreclosure, a deed in lieu allows you to return the property to the lender. The Lender must approve of this option. If there are second liens, tax liens, personal liens,etc this is usually not an option. This is usually best done with a Real Estate Attorney. This option is really not any better than a foreclosure.
When a bank offers you a deed in lieu, think what are they asking you. They are asking you to bail and save them money and just foreclose on your property.
They usually get what they want from you, and fail to give you anything they have offered you such as moving expenses.
* Pros: Sometimes a real estate attorney can negotiate a successful deed in lieu, in a manner whereas the lender will forego their right to a deficiency judgment. This is usually with the help of a qualified Real Estate attorney and paying their fees.
* Cons: Requires you to vacate the property, hire an attorney, and a deed in lieu will usually be reported to credit bureaus the same as a foreclosure.
Bankruptcy
Some think Bankruptcy is some magic solution to to stop lenders from foreclosing on your house. At best it may stall the lender around 30 - 45 days. That is not a huge gain considering you just filed for Bankruptcy. If you have non-mortgage debts that cause a shortfall of paying your mortgage payments and a personal bankruptcy will eliminate these debts, bankruptcy, may be a viable solution.
If you are considering disposing of your property it may be wise to wait until you have disposed of the property before you file for bankruptcy. Using Bankruptcy to keep your property may not be wise. Using bankruptcy to think it will stop lenders from taking your house is a myth.
* Pros: Does not require lender approval.
* Cons: If a homeowner cannot afford their mortgage payment, a bankruptcy will barely stall—not stop—the foreclosure process. Bankruptcy can be costly, is damaging to credit scores, and can only be declared once every seven - ten years. Most banks know how to get around this in a very short amount of time. Ruins credit. Life will became much more difficult in some ways.
Refinance
If you have sufficient equity in your property and your credit is still in good standing, and you have a documented income, you may be able to refinance your mortgage.
* Pros: In some cases, you can lower your payments.
* Cons: In today’s market, a refinance will almost always raise mortgage payments, and is an expensive process. Usually, must show a reliable source of income. Refinancing a home costs money.
Service Members Civil Relief Act (Military Personnel Only)
If you are a member of the military and experiencing financial distress due to deployment, and you can show that your debt was entered into prior to deployment, you may qualify for relief under the Service Members Civil Relief Act. The American Bar Association has a network of attorneys that will work with you in relation to qualifying for this relief.
* Pros: If qualified, this may lower payments on your consumer debt in addition to mortgage payments.
* Cons: Must be active in the military to qualify.
Sell the Property
Homeowners with sufficient equity can list their property with a qualified agent that understands the foreclosure process in their area.
* Pros: Allows homeowner to avoid foreclosure and keep some of their equity.
* Cons: Selling in a down market is not the best time to sell however it is far better than foreclosure.
Foreclosure
Over 60% of the homeowners who are behind in their payments are afraid to read their mail and do nothing, thereby letting their property go to foreclosure.
Most vacate their home long before their property is even taken and suffer down the road with tax issues for the property is no longer considered their principle residence.
* Pros: Allows homeowner to move on and no longer have a house payment.
* Cons: Where do I begin? The song, "It's no fun being an illegal alien" comes to mind on what life may be like for those who go through foreclosure. Credit issues of this magnitude is a difficult thing to shake. If this is your first option and you have tried to do nothing else, I would be very shocked. You can at least try something. In most cases foreclosure is not the fault of the homeowner, due to loss of work in our economy. These are the people I want to help the most.
Strategic Foreclosure
The decision, to walk away from their property and let it go to foreclosure.
* Pros: Allows people to walk away from their property and run from their problems.
* Cons: These are people who simply give up. They probably give up on everything. Their word or their word on a contract means nothing. Can anyone ever trust them? These people aid to destroy our economy, and way of life more so than those who are not in control of their situation.
It is wise to consult with a REAL ESTATE ATTORNEY, a REALTOR, and a CPA to figure out your best options.
I am a Real Estate Agent, REALTOR, in Southern California and I do Short Sales for nice people who need help. I am easy to talk with on the phone so feel free to call and ask questions. Dante Walker at Posh Realty. 951-234-7674 or 323-642-7674.
If at any time prior to opening escrow, you think doing a short sale is not right for you, I will respect your wishes and we can cancel.
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If you have any questions, please call me
9am - 7pm, 7 days
Dante Walker - Posh Realty
(951) 234-7674 or (323) 642-7674. I'm here to help you!
