What's the First Step?

First and foremost, contact your lender. This will aid in future communications by showing your intent to resolve the matter with honesty to satisfy the loan balance on your home to the best of your abilities. Secondly, contact a qualified and experienced Realtor, an attorney, and accountant. A Realtor may be able to recommend both an attorney and accountant, but should never engage in any activity that could be considered practicing law. Your Realtor will be an incredible ally in the process, offering guidance and recommendations and ultimately being a key to the success of a short sale.

You should also determine if you will qualify for a short sale by undergoing an analysis of your financial situation.

An example of some of the documentation that you may be required to provide includes, but is certainly not limited to, the following:

• Letter of Authorization - Lenders will not disclose your personal information without your authorization to do so. With so many parties involved in a short sale, a letter of authorization will aid in cooperation and information sharing. The authorization letter should include the address of the property, the loan reference number, your contact information, the date, and your real estate agent's name and contact information.
   
• Preliminary Net Sheet - This is an estimate of the sales price you expect and the expenses associated with the sale of your property, including unpaid loan balances and fees. If you are unsure of how to calculate this information, a qualified Realtor will be extremely helpful.
   
• Proof of Income - Bank statements, savings accounts, investments, cash, and other real estate you own should be provided to your lender. Your lender will require full disclosure of your financial situation in order to determine that your debt is worthy of forgiveness. Any document or evidence you can provide-from receipts from pawned merchandise, diverse papers, copies of any late bills, and more can be taken into consideration.
   
• Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) - When markets decline and property values fall it often affects your ability to sell your home at a price that will satisfy the total loan amount. Proving this to a lender through a CMA report prepared by your real estate agent, will show the price of homes similar to yours that are currently on the market, are pending sale, or have been sold in the last six months. Again, a Realtor will be a valuable partner in providing you this information.

If you need any help gathering this information, please feel free to contact us at any time!