Why do banks allow short sales?

Asked by: Dasia Cormier  |  Last update: May 25, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (75 votes)

Short sales actually bring the bank more money than they would receive in the foreclosure process. This myth that the bank would rather foreclose remains prevalent because of the extreme difficulty people face during the loan modification process.

Why would a bank approve a short sale?

A lender is interested in securing the best deal it can and will only accept a short sale offer after concluding that it provides an equal or better deal than a foreclosure sale.

Why do banks take so long to approve a short sale?

The issue with short sales is that it can be a long process. While some can be approved in the 30 day range, many end up dragging out. Banks require lots of documents from the all parties, primarily the seller. Often, deadlines are set, and if you miss a deadline, a file has to be re-started.

Why are short sales legal?

Short selling is legal because investors and regulators say it plays an important role in market efficiency and liquidity. By permitting short selling, a strategy that speculates that a security will go down in price, regulators are, in effect, allowing investors to bet against what they see as overvalued stocks.

What's a typical reason that a seller might opt for a short sale?

A potential short sale is one where the listing agent reasonably believes the purchase price may not be enough to cover payment of all liens and costs of sale and the seller is unwilling or unable to bring sufficient liquid assets to the closing.

Why do banks allow short sales?

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Who pays closing costs in a short sale?

In most cases, these fees are the obligation of a property owner when they sell the property. In a short sale, these fees are paid by the lender.

Who benefits from a short sale?

Benefits Of A Short Sale In Real Estate. A short sale can be beneficial for all parties involved. It provides greater investment opportunities for buyers and minimizes the financial repercussions that both the lender and seller would face if the property went into foreclosure.

Why is a short sale risky?

Short sellers aim to sell shares while the price is high, and then buy them later after the price has dropped. Short sales are considered risky because if the stock price rises instead of declines, there is theoretically no limit to the investor's possible loss.

Why are short sellers allowed?

While often criticized, short selling can improve market efficiency by providing liquidity and exposing overvalued companies. Risks of short selling include potentially unlimited losses, high costs, and the possibility of regulatory interventions.

Does a short sale hurt your credit?

Short sales can damage your credit, and they can stay on your credit report for seven years. You might pay higher rates on future mortgages after a short sale.

Can a bank come after you after a short sale?

In most states, the bank can seek a personal judgment against the borrower after a short sale to recover the deficiency amount.

Why would a short sale be denied?

There are several reasons why banks reject short sales but the three most common reasons that disqualify a property for a short sale are comprised of an initial offer price that is very low, disqualification of the property seller for the short sale, or disqualification of the buyer for the short sale.

How much of a loss will a bank take on a short sale?

For a short sale to take place, the lender must agree to the sale. Since the lender will be taking a loss, for example, the outstanding loan amount is $350,000, but the proceeds from the sale will be $260,000, which would result in a loss of $90,000, the lender will need to agree to the sale of the property.

Do you owe money after a short sale?

After the short sale is completed, your lender might call you or send letters stating that you still owe money. These letters could come from an attorney's office or a collection agency and will demand that you pay off the deficiency.

Can I offer less on a short sale?

They will generally approve your offer price if it is within reasonable range of value. There is a misconception that you can low-ball short sales and a bank will accept a low-ball offer. This is far from true. The banks do their due diligence in making sure they sell the home for at least near value.

How long do you have to wait to buy after a short sale?

After Short Sale/Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure

Fannie Mae (conventional) loan – 4 years. FHA loan – 3 years. VA loan – 2 years. USDA loan – 3 years.

What are three cons of short selling?

Short selling comes with numerous risks:
  • Potentially limitless losses: When you buy shares of stock (take a long position), your downside is limited to 100% of the money you invested. ...
  • A sudden change in fees. ...
  • Dividend Payments.

Why is short selling illegal?

Key reasons for its prohibition or restriction in some jurisdictions include concerns about market stability and the prevention of market manipulation. Short selling can amplify market downturns, particularly during periods of economic stress, leading to panic selling and destabilizing financial markets.

What happens if you short a stock and it goes to zero?

For instance, say you sell 100 shares of stock short at a price of $10 per share. Your proceeds from the sale will be $1,000. If the stock goes to zero, you'll get to keep the full $1,000. However, if the stock soars to $100 per share, you'll have to spend $10,000 to buy the 100 shares back.

Are there any benefits to a short sale?

The seller avoids foreclosure and is released from some or all of the mortgage obligation with the lender. The seller can get financing approval on another home more quickly after a short sale than foreclosure, and the credit rating recovery is faster according to mortgage lender Quicken Loans.

Which is the most likely consequence of a short sale?

A Short Sale Will Damage Your Credit Scores

Some say short sales have less of a negative effect on credit scores when compared to foreclosures, but this claim isn't necessarily true. Short sales, as well as deeds in lieu foreclosure, are pretty similar to foreclosures when it comes to damaging your credit scores.

What happens if a short seller can't cover?

Most of the time, you can hold a short for as long as you want. However, you can be forced to cover if the lender wants back the stock you borrowed. Brokerages can't sell what they don't have, and so yours will either have to come up with new shares to borrow, or you'll have to cover.

Why do banks prefer foreclosure to short sale?

Banks are businesses and, just like any business, they are seeking to earn a profit. If it costs more to foreclose over agreeing to a short sale, the bank is very likely to favor the short sale. With foreclosure, a bank takes possession of the house, then resells it at a mortgage auction to the highest bidder.

Who makes money when short sellers lose?

Short sellers are wagering that the stock they're shorting will drop in price. If this happens, they will get it back at a lower price and return it to the lender. The short seller's profit is the difference in price between when the investor borrowed the stock and when they returned it.

Does short sale hurt credit?

A short sale will blow a hole in your credit score, dropping it as much as 100-150 points, depending on where you started. The higher your credit score, the more you will fall.