Short Sales

Monday, March 7, 2011

Seattle Short Sales: What is a BPO and why does it matter on a short sale?

Seattle WA – Some agents hate short sales. Why? Because they don't understand them. So, don't believe them when they tell you that short sales are impossible.

I will explain what causes their problems in today's post.

There are two things you must understand if you are doing short sales. They are BPOs and HUD-1s. A BPO is what the short sale lender uses to determine the value of the property.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

BPO stands for "Broker's Price Opinion." They are what another real estate agent (Broker) thinks a property is worth.

Basically the agent gives their opinion of the value of the property. "I think it is worth 300k", they put on the report. Lenders accept or reject short sale offers based on the BPO value.

If the agent has given a value of 300k, then a short sale lender will not accept a sales price of 250k. The problem is that, in my opinion, sometimes the values are inaccurate.

I have seen agents drive 50 miles away to evaluate a property. They go to a place where they do not sell real estate. As a result they are not familiar with the local marketplace.

Because of this I always try to meet the agent doing the BPO at the property. I explain the market value to them and tell them what is happening with the property.

I explain exactly why the property is selling for the sale price. I tell them what buyers have said about the property and why it isn't selling for a higher price. This helps them to give an accurate value.

The lender gets an accurate value and is able to make a better decision on the short sale. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at nathan.olotoa@hotmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (253) 310-1177

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Seattle loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Nathan Olotoa.

Nathan is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams-Tacoma. Seattle Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (253) 310-1177. nathan.olotoa@hotmail.com.

Nathan Olotoa specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Seattle Washington. Seattle Loan Modification Help, Seattle Short Sales. Washington Short Sale Realtor. Seattle WA Short Sales. Seattle Realtor.

Important Notice

Nathan Olotoa, Keller Williams-Tacoma, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Olotoa's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams-Tacoma.

This information on Seattle Short Sales: What is a BPO and why does it matter on a short sale? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Seattle Short Sales: What is a HUD-1 and why does it matter on a short sale?

Seattle WA – Here is something that drives inexperienced short sale agents crazy. It is a HUD-1, also called a HUD. HUD is the Federal Agency, the Department of Housing & Urban Development, also called HUD.

A HUD-1 is a document regulated by HUD. It is the financial accounting for a real estate sale. Here is why it is important to a short sale.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Before a short sale lender will accept a short sale, they want to know what they will net from the sale. A HUD-1 breaks down all the projected closing costs so the lender can see their net.

Most agents are familiar with a HUD-1. They see them at the closing of every home they sell. But, seeing a HUD-1 at a closing is not the same as the familiarity you learn on short sales.

See, if you mess up on that HUD-1, then it puts the short sale transaction in jeopardy. The short sale lender will look at a projected HUD-1 and agree to accept a certain number.

If unexpected costs get added to the HUD-1, then that net goes down. (There are always unexpected costs on a short sale. I can tell you from personal experience.) Now, the agent has to go back and re-negotiate with the short sale lender. That can drag out the process another 60-90 days.

The buyer will usually get frustrated and cancel the contract. Then, the agent has to re-sell the house and start the process all over again.

This is what causes many agents to hate short sales. They didn’t take the HUD-1 seriously and had problems on a short sale. As a result, they think all short sales are impossible.

To truly be successful at short sales, the agent must understand HUD-1s inside and out. They need to make sure that every single projected expense is added to the HUD-1 at the beginning of the negotiations.

Adding them after you have negotiated isn’t going to work. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at nathan.olotoa@hotmail.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at (253) 310-1177

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Seattle loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Nathan Olotoa.

Nathan is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams-Tacoma. Seattle Short Sales Realtor:

Phone: (253) 310-1177. nathan.olotoa@hotmail.com.

Important Notice

Nathan Olotoa, Keller Williams-Tacoma, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Olotoa's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams-Tacoma.

This information on Seattle Short Sales: What is a HUD-1 and why does it matter on a short sale? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Friday, February 25, 2011

Will I Still Have To Pay Property Taxes If I Do A Tacoma Short Sale?

Seattle and Tacoma,WA –Hi! This is Nathan Olotoa with 59days2sold.com and www.seattleshortsalesagent.com and I specialize in short sales in the Tacoma and Seattle areas.Tacoma WA – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Paul. Here is Paul's Question.

"I am thinking about a short sale, but I am behind on my property taxes. Will I still have to pay them if I short sale my home? Max."

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Here is the answer to Paul's Question: In most cases your lender will pay those property taxes. Property taxes are a first priority lien on a property.

That means that if a property is foreclosed upon, then they still have to be paid. They don’t go away for any reason.

This is also why most lenders want to charge you monthly and then pay the property taxes themselves. They know that the taxes are a big bill that only comes once a year.

Not everyone can afford that big bill. Because your lender knows they will still have to pay the taxes after a foreclosure, they are willing to pay them during a short sale.

A foreclosure is a liquidation of the property to simply get what they can and move on. A short sale has been proven to net them more money than a foreclosure.

So if they are liquidating the property, why net more money from the sale with a short sale and avoid a foreclosure? That’s why they will pay the taxes when you short sale.

Every short sale the Stop Foreclosure Institute has sold resulted in the lender paying the property taxes that were owed. In some cases they paid 2-3 years of property taxes. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at asknate@kw.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 253-310-1177

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.
Thinking about a loan modification Our Tacoma loan modificationkit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Nathan Olotoa.

Nathanis a Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams-Tacoma. Short Sales Realtor

Phone: 253-310-1177. asknate@kw.com.

Listed to Sold in 59 days or less

View Tacoma homes for sale and Seattle homes for sale at 59days2sold.com. View my previous blog posts at www.seattleshortsalesagent.com.

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Copyright 2010 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved. This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing. The views expressed here are Nathan Olotoa's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams-Tacoma.

This information on Will I Still Have To Pay Property Taxes If I Do A Tacoma Short Sale? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Tacoma Short Sales: I Have Mortgage Insurance. Won't That Cover The Deficiency?

Seattle and Tacoma,WA –Hi! This is Nathan Olotoa with 59days2sold.com and www.seattleshortsalesagent.com and I specialize in short sales in the Tacoma and Seattle areas.

Tacoma WA – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Max. Here is Max's Question.

"If I pay mortgage insurance and default on my loan, why wouldn’t that cover the deficiency amount? Max."

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Here is the answer to Max's Question: Yes, the Mortgage Insurance should pay your lender for any loss. So that reduces the amount that your lender will lose on the short sale.

There are a couple of problems. Many Mortgage Insurance Companies have gone bankrupt. They can't pay on their claims.

In this situation your lender may or may not pursue you for the loss.

(I've written extensively on deficiencies on other blog posts. In 60-75% of all short sales, you won't owe a deficiency. E-mail me at asknate@kw.com and I can research your specific situation.)

The other problem is that many Mortgage Insurance Companies have terms written into the mortgage that they can pursue you for the loss.

They are more aggressive with trying to be repaid. In the few short sales we have negotiated and the lender asked for a promissory note, the person requesting it usually was the Mortgage Insurance Company.

But, they only ask for a promissory note about half the time. In addition, the promissory notes are usually for an amount lower than the loss.

For example on one short sale, the loss was around $59,000. The seller agreed to a promissory note of $10,000 to be repaid over the next 10 years with Zero Interest. Their Monthly Payment was $83.33.

We won't know if they will ask for a promissory note until the short sale is in progress. If you know you have Mortgage Insurance, then you need to find and aggressive short sale agent

They will work to get an promissory note or deficiency waived. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at asknate@kw.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 253-310-1177

Thanks for reading this, Nathan Olotoa.

Nathanis a Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams-Tacoma. Short Sales Realtor

Phone: 253-310-1177. asknate@kw.com.

Listed to Sold in 59 days or less

View Tacoma homes for sale and Seattle homes for sale at 59days2sold.com. View my previous blog posts at www.seattleshortsalesagent.com.

This information on Tacoma Short Sales: I Have Mortgage Insurance. Won't That Cover The Deficiency? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

How Much Do You Charge For A Short Sale in Tacoma?

Seattle and Tacoma,WA –Hi! This is Nathan Olotoa with 59days2sold.com and www.seattleshortsalesagent.com and I specialize in short sales in the Tacoma and Seattle areas.

Tacoma WA – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Tawny. Here is Tawny's Question.

"I have not been late on any payments but my income will be changing dramatically towards the end of the summer. What is your exact service and what are the fees involved? I do not have any cash in savings and pretty much live paycheck to paycheck. Tawny."

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale to avoid foreclosure by clicking here.

Here is the answer to Tawny's Question: A short sale doesn't cost the homeowner any money. All of the costs are paid for by the homeowner's lender.

Now, I'm sure you are asking, "The bank is losing money on the short sale. They wouldn't want to have to pay to sell the property."

Many people also think this. After all, it makes sense logically. But, it's actually not the case.

Banks have been lending money for centuries. They have learned from past experience that a short sale is a good way to cut their losses.

In fact, a recent study by the Boston Consulting Group actually showed that a short sale reduced a lender's losses by 20%, compared to a foreclosure.

After a lender forecloses on a property they put it up for sale. They have to hire and pay a real estate agent and all the other related costs.

Why not pay those costs on a short sale and cut their losses by 20%? It's a good business decision. And that's why a short sale doesn't cost the homeowner anything.

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at asknate@kw.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 253-310-1177

Thanks for reading this, Nathan Olotoa.

Nathanis a Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams-Tacoma. Short Sales Realtor

Phone: 253-310-1177. asknate@kw.com.

Listed to Sold in 59 days or less

View Tacoma homes for sale and Seattle homes for sale at 59days2sold.com. View my previous blog posts at www.seattleshortsalesagent.com.

This information on Short Sales: Are Lenders So Desperate They Will Accept Any Offer is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

What you can expect during and after the Short Sale Process

Seattle and Tacoma,WA –Hi! This is Nathan Olotoa with 59days2sold.com and www.seattleshortsalesagent.com and I specialize in short sales in the Tacoma and Seattle areas.

– Here are a few things you should not be surprised to see crop up during the short sale process.

Unscruplous Debt Collection Tactics. If you are facing financial hardship, then paying credit cards and other unsecured debts is your lowest priority. An unsecured debt is a debt where they can’t take away your car or house. A secured debt has something as collateral, such as your car, house, or anything else of value.

The most commons unsecured debt is a credit card. When you stop paying them, they will call you nonstop. The reason is because they don’t have any other way to collect from you.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sales to avoid foreclosure clicking here.

They can’t come get your car or take your house. So, they make up for that by blowing up your phone with harassing calls. In addition, they use deceptive tricks to get you to pay them.

For example, there are Federal Laws that regulate what they can do or say. They aren’t allowed to threaten to sue you, but then not follow thru and actually file suit.

To get around this rule, they will use language that sounds legal, but isn’t. In one situation, a debt collector in Buffalo, New York named their firm Hoffman, Weinberg & O’Brien to make it sound like they were a law firm.

They would then leave messages on people’s answering machines. They would say they were with the office of Hoffman, Weinberg & O’Brien and then say they may resort to future legal action. In addition, they would reference case number 8306042.

If you didn’t know any better, you would think the case number was for an actual lawsuit against you. That is scary. Don’t you agree?

Most credit card accounts never sue (despite the constant threats.) Even when they do sue and get a judgment, they rarely ever attempt to garnish wages.

A lot of judgments expire without getting paid. But, a lot of them get paid off when a person’s income increases, or that person sells a valuable asset such as a house.

It might seem like the process takes a long time. Some short sales only take a few months. Before you know it you are moving out of your house and onto the next place.

However, some short sales will take a lot longer. We have some files that we have been working on for a year or even longer.

It’s not the end of the world. Just stay put and keep on saving the money you would be using for rent. In most cases the short sale will eventually be approved and you can move on with your life.

Your lender may attempt to collect money from you when they aren’t legally entitled to do so. We have heard several stories of some lenders asking for a promissory note when the state the property was in did not allow the lender to pursue the homeowner after a short sale.

The stories in question were for short sales of properties in California and Washington. Don’t sign a promissory note a lender sends you after a short sale when you are in a non-recourse state.

Talk to a lawyer to see if you are obligated to repay the debt. You could probably get out of repaying it if you tried. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at asknate@kw.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 253-310-1177

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sales and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your lender. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Nathan Olotoa.

Nathanis a Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams-Tacoma. Short Sales Realtor

Phone: 253-310-1177. asknate@kw.com.

Listed to Sold in 59 days or less

View Tacoma homes for sale and Seattle homes for sale at 59days2sold.com. View my previous blog posts at www.seattleshortsalesagent.com.

This information on Short Sales: Are Lenders So Desperate They Will Accept Any Offer is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Short Sales: How To Convince A Lender To Waive A Promissory Note

Seattle and Tacoma,WA –Hi! This is Nathan Olotoa with 59days2sold.com and www.seattleshortsalesagent.com and I specialize in short sales in the Tacoma and Seattle areas.

– Some lenders are very stubborn about collecting what they feel they are “rightfully owed.”

These lenders are usually a lender that you originally got the loan from. A good example is a credit union loan, or a small community bank.

Another common type is loans that were granted with Private Mortgage Insurance. In our experience, these companies are very demanding.

Discover how other sellers successfully did a short sales to avoid foreclosure clicking here.

They negotiate hard and say they will not approve a short sale without a promissory. However, that is not always the case.

You can often convince them to waive the deficiency if you do the following.

1. Prove to them that you don’t have any assets or any extra monthly income.

2. Prove that your home is worth what the buyer is offering on theshort sale. This is your agent’s job to do. Your agent will put together an agent’s version of an appraisal.

This will include comparable sales and what your property is worth, based on those comparable sales. Your agent will show them that they are better off accepting the short sale.

If you have presented your case well and the lender buys it, then they will usually waive the deficiency or promissory note and accept what they can get. After all, something is better than nothing. Make sense?

Another option is to hire a good lawyer to negotiate for you. Look for a lawyer with experience in bankruptcy.

They can use the threat of bankruptcy to convince the lender to approve the short sale with the deficiency waived. Bankruptcy is very bad for creditors.

If you declare bankruptcy, then it could take 12-18 months before the lender can sell the house. Their right to collect from you would be wiped out in bankruptcy.

A short sale where they get their money today is a much better option. That’s why they’ll usually take that option when threatened with bankruptcy. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and never pay the bank another penny. Send me an e-mail at asknate@kw.com. I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 253-310-1177

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sales and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Loan Modification Kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your lender. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Nathan Olotoa.

Nathanis a Real Estate Broker at Keller Williams-Tacoma. Short Sales Realtor

Phone: 253-310-1177. asknate@kw.com.

Listed to Sold in 59 days or less

View Tacoma homes for sale and Seattle homes for sale at 59days2sold.com. View my previous blog posts at www.seattleshortsalesagent.com.

This information on Short Sales: Are Lenders So Desperate They Will Accept Any Offer is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.