No one wants to be in the position of having to short sale their home. But, if you are in a position that you need to short sale your home, there are many benefits to selecting a short sale over a foreclosure. In the end, it creates a win-win-win situation for all of the parties that are involved.

Benefits Of A Short Sale For the Seller

While losing your home is never easy, a short sale is by far the lesser of two evils compared to a foreclosure.

Avoid a major credit hit

When you go into foreclosure, your credit score plummets and can take up to seven years to even begin to recover. The hit to your credit after a short sale is far less damaging and can keep you in the market to take out a loan in the nearer future.

Less stress than a foreclosure

Foreclosure is pretty much the end of the road in real estate, and the prospect can cause huge amounts of stress. This is typically added to stresses that are already being felt as the financial strain takes hold, and the prospect of being ‘financially tarnished’ and potentially homeless can lead to mental and physical health problems. While a short sale has its own stresses, the stakes are nowhere near as high.

Control over the sale process and time frames

In foreclosure, the bank repossesses your home and may sue you for a deficiency judgment. They’re then in charge of selling it. During a short sale, however, the homeowner is still in control of the sale process, which typically runs like a normal sale. You will continue to work with the agent, buyers, and lenders and avoid the pressures of being forced out.

Benefits Of A Short Sale For The Lender

There are no two ways about it: the lender stands to lose money during a short sale. However, they would lose much more money and time if the property went into foreclosure. This is what makes short sales a viable option.

Avoid additional fees

Repossessing a home isn’t cheap, and lenders must pay numerous fees, including legal fees, which can mount up if the owner refuses to leave and the eviction process must be initiated. Even with the owner out, as the new property owner, the lender is required to pay taxes, maintenance costs, and perhaps even repairs to prepare it for sale, until it’s sold. By agreeing to a short sale, they avoid all of these costs.

More likely to recoup their losses

Rather than hold onto an unsellable house, it’s in the lender’s interest to recoup as much of their losses as possible. This is far more possible by allowing a short sale, and in a hot market, the seller might even be able to get a better offer, reducing the loss further. In the end, it’s up to the lender to approve an offer, so they can wait until a good one comes along.

Benefits Short Sale For A Buyer

Short sales are often given a bad press, and buyers are typically advised to proceed with caution. While there are reasons why you might be better off looking for a different home, there are benefits to be reaped.

Get a deal

One of the major draws with a short sale is that the price is often pretty low. This is normally because the seller is in no position to pay for any repairs that might be necessary, and so the buyer is expected to absorb them. As such, many short sales are fixer-uppers, which means a buyer may be able to buy a larger home than they normally would be able to afford.

Great financing terms

It’s in the lender’s best interest to sell the home rather than let it go into foreclosure, and while they’d rather not lose money, they can see the benefit of a short sale. As such, they may offer the buyer more attractive terms, such as lower interest rates or more flexible conditions, in an attempt to sell the property and avoid additional costs.

No nasty surprises

Another way to get a deal is to buy a foreclosed home. However, this is far riskier for the buyer, as they must buy the home as-is. Homes can be trashed by former owners when they go into foreclosure, or they may flat out refuse to leave, in which case messy legal proceedings will need to be carried out. With a short sale, the seller is actively selling their home and is more likely to leave it in good condition. The buyer is also able to carry out a home inspection, and the seller is required to provide disclosures, so the buyer knows exactly what they are getting into.