Why do sellers choose a short sale?

Asked by: Prof. Mason Bogisich  |  Last update: February 26, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (52 votes)

For many sellers, though, the chance to buy another home in two years is the real motivation to do a short sale. Some sellers qualify immediately to buy again under certain terms. Good credit behavior can supplant bad credit after two years, even though the derogatory will remain. HomePath Short Sales.

Why would a seller do a short sale?

This typically happens when the owner is under financial stress and is behind on mortgage payments. The owner is obligated to sell the home to a third party, with all of the proceeds of the sale going to the lender. The lender must approve the short sale before it happens.

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.

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.

What is the downside of a short sale?

The short sale is often preferable to a foreclosure, but it is not a resolution to all a homeowner's financial woes. Aside from potential tax liability and credit implications, if the homeowner is expected to pay the difference between the sale price and the mortgage, that can compound the financial difficulty.

Why does a seller choose a short sale?

16 related questions found

Who pays closing costs in a short sale?

In a short sale transaction on the other hand, the seller's closing costs are usually paid out of the money the buyer brings to the closing. Normally, the seller's lender must approve all of these seller closing costs before a short sale can be approved and completed.

Why do short sellers have a bad reputation?

Why Does Short Selling Have Negative Reputation? Unfortunately, short selling gets a bad name due to the practices employed by unethical speculators who have used short-selling strategies and derivatives to deflate prices and conduct bear raids on vulnerable stocks artificially.

Can a seller back out of a short sale?

Sellers Who Cancel Short Sale Contracts

In California, buyer's agents generally attach a "short sale addendum" to the purchase contract. The short sale addendum specifies that the entire transaction is contingent upon lender approval.

How do realtors get paid in a short sale?

As far as short sales go however, it's the responsibility of the lender to cover agent fees using the sales proceeds. It works this way because short sales are designed for underwater homeowners who simply can't afford to contribute any cash to close the deal.

Can you offer less on a short sale?

If you make an offer tremendously lower than the fair market value of the home, the lender could make a counteroffer, which will lengthen the process.

Who pays the difference in a short sale?

With a short sale arrangement, the lender collects the sale proceeds and can either forgive the deficiency balance (the difference between the proceeds and what you owe on the mortgage) or, if your state allows it, pursue a deficiency judgment requiring you to pay all or a portion of the remaining balance.

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.

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 is the short seller rule?

Under the short-sale rule, shorts could only be placed at a price above the most recent trade, i.e., an uptick in the share's price. With only limited exceptions, the rule forbade trading shorts on a downtick in share price. The rule was also known as the uptick rule, "plus tick rule," and tick-test rule."

Do you get any money back from a short sale?

Complete the sale.

After you receive an offer (and the lender approves it), the closing process begins. You won't receive any money from your home sale, and you may still owe a balance to your lender.

What potential ramifications might the seller face after completing a short sale?

Further, despite a successful short sale, sellers will find it challenging to find a lender willing to extend a mortgage within the two years following the sale. Even after the two year period, sellers will generally pay both higher interest rates and down payments, reflecting their higher credit risk rating.

What is the downside of a short sale on a home?

The most significant disadvantage of selling your home in a short sale is that you lose your home in the end. We understand this may be the only option for some, but for those that haven't exhausted all other resources, there may be other options to delay or stop foreclosure without having to sell your home.

Who pays the closing costs in a short sale?

In a short sale, we negotiate with the lender to accept less than the full amount owed to satisfy the debt, allowing it to be paid off “short”. Another benefit is that all of the fees involved with selling a home are paid by the lien holder (bank) and there is not any out-of-pocket expense for you (the seller).

Is short sale flipping illegal?

Those who engage in short sale transactions, including the related "negotiations", and who are unlicensed (and do not have the benefit of an exception/exemption), are in violation of California law. The penalties include fines and/or imprisonment under section 10139 of the B&P Code.

Does the seller get any money in a short sale?

For a short sale to happen, both the lender and the homeowner have to be willing to sell the house at a loss. The homeowner will make no profit, and the lender will actually lose money for selling the house for less than the amount owed.

Can a seller walk away after an inspection?

Homes inspections are done on behalf of the buyer to give them an out if needed, so sellers usually cannot legally back out of the sale after a home inspection. In rare cases, sellers could be uncooperative and push the buyer into backing out after the home inspection to get out of the contract themselves.

Do you have to pay a realtor if you decide not to sell?

Probably not, but read your contract carefully. Real estate agents are typically paid when you sell your home, so if your home doesn't sell, you shouldn't owe them a commission.

What makes a short sale incredibly risky?

Short selling means selling stocks you've borrowed, aiming to buy them back later for less money. Traders often look to short-selling as a means of profiting on short-term declines in shares. The big risk of short selling is that you guess wrong and the stock rises, causing infinite losses.

Who are the biggest short sellers?

See how the best short sellers invest!
  • Jeremy Grantham. GMO Asset Management. ...
  • Cathie Wood. ARK Invest. ...
  • George Soros. Soros Fund Management LLC. ...
  • Jim Chanos. Kynikos Associates LP. ...
  • Howard Marks. Oaktree Capital Management. ...
  • Michael Burry. Scion Asset Management, LLC. ...
  • Bill Ackman. Pershing Square Capital Management. ...
  • Gabe Plotkin.

Why do short sales fail?

Problems with junior liens; Inexperienced representatives; Seller changes their mind; and. Seller fails to prove their hardship.