Short Sale Terms

What is a short sale? A short sale is the selling of a house for an amount that is lower than the balance left on the mortgage loan. It is a better alternative to foreclosure for both the lender and the borrower because the lender avoids the exorbitant fees that a foreclosure entails and the borrower lessens the negative impact on his credit score, compared to the effect of foreclosure on credit score.

Short Sale Terms For Investors & Home Owners

Advertising- (or Publishing)

A copy of the Notice of Foreclosure Sale must be published once a week for four weeks.

Bankruptcy-Chapter 7

Often called a straight bankruptcy-involves the liquidation of all non-exempt by the bankruptcy trustee, who in turn distributes the proceeds to qualified creditors. All dischargeable debts are discharged and the person(s) filing receive a ‘fresh start’.

Bankruptcy-Chapter 13

Often called a debt reorganization. A Chapter 13 Bankruptcy is generally appropriate for those individuals who have non-exempt property they wish to retain and who have enough income to reasonably pay the reorganized debt after covering reasonable living expenses.

Beneficiary

The beneficiary in a foreclosure context is generally the mortgage lender. Frequently referred to as the ‘Benny’.

Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure

The voluntary surrender of property by an owner/borrower to a lien holder that eliminates the need to continue foreclosure action by the lien holder. The lien holder can refuse to accept the Deed in Lieu and file a Notice of Non Acceptance with the County Recorder.

Discounted Payoff

The payoff of a mortgage loan where the lender accepts an amount less than the actual amount owed to payoff the loan.

Equity Deficient

A property is Equity Deficient when, if sold, sales proceeds would not fully pay off existing mortgage debt.

Forbearance Agreement

An agreement between a mortgage holder and a borrower that lays out a specific loan payment plan and puts a stop on the foreclosure action so long as the borrower meets the terms of the agreement. The payment plan includes provisions for repayment to the mortgage holder of all delinquent interest and fees and could include extending the life of the mortgage beyond it's original term. A Forbearance Agreement is a tool that allows the borrower to keep the property.

Judicial Foreclosure

A foreclosure action conducted through the courts instead of through a foreclosure trustee.

Junior Liens

A lien, usually a mortgage loan, that is subordinate to a Senior Lien, usually a first mortgage. Lien priority is generally established by order of recordation . NOTE: if you refinance a 1st mortgage on a property with a 2nd mortgage already in place the new 1st mortgage holder will require a subordination agreement from Junior Lien holders to legally establish the new mortgage holder as 1st or Senior Position.

LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate)

The interest rate charged among banks for short-term Eurodollars loans – LIBOR is a very common index for adjustable rate mortgages (ARM).

Loss Mitigation

Home mortgage lenders look to limit losses on delinquent mortgages by working out solutions with borrowers through their Loss Mitigation Departments.

Mailing

A copy of the Notice of Trustee’s Sale must be mailed (certified and first class) at least 20 days before the foreclosure sale to the borrower and to anyone who was entitled to receive a copy of the Notice of Default and Secretary of State and IRS, if applicable.

NOD

Short for Notice Of Default.

Notice of Default

An official notice filed and recorded by a designated trustee at the request of a lender indicating lender has commenced foreclosure action.

Notice of Trustee Sale

An official notice that is posted, mailed, published/advertised and recorded by trustee at the direction of lender indicating lender’s intention to sell the property at public auction. The notice includes a specific date, time and location.

Posting

A copy of the notice of sale must be posted in a conspicuous place on the property to be sold at least twenty days before the sale. Also, a copy of the notice must be posted at one public place in the city where the property is to be sold at least twenty days before the sale.

Postponement

Trustee Sales may be postponed by the first at the direction of the lien holder. Notice may be given in advance or at the time and location specified for the intended sale.

Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)

A policy of insurance paid for by the borrower to protect the lender in the event the borrower defaults on the mortgage. Typically PMI is required by the mortgage holder when the down payment is less than 20% of the purchase price.

Qualifying Funds

In order to bid at a Trustee Sale bidder must have qualifying funds available at the sale. Qualifying funds are cash or a cashiers check(s) drawn by a State or National Bank, a check(s) drawn by a State or Federal Credit Union or check drawn by a State or Federal Savings and Loan Association, savings association or savings bank specified in section 5102 or the Financial Code and authorized to do business in the State of Florida.

REO

Short for Real Estate Owned. When a mortgage lender acquires a property, typically through foreclosure, it becomes real estate owned – or REO.

Reinstatement

To bring the loan current. Borrower may reinstate up to five (5) business days before foreclosure sale.

Short Sale

The sale of a home which is completed through negotiation with the existing lender(s) in which the lender(s) agrees to accept less than the full amount owed to satisfy the debt allowing the debt to be ‘paid off’, (short).

1099-C

IRS Form 1099-c is issued by those canceling all of part of a debt to the person receiving debt relief.

Austin Domain Properties continues to thrive and still specializes in short sales with 700+ successfully closed and negotiated since 2006.  If you know anyone who is in a situation where impending foreclosure is present, please give them my contact info. I’m happy to speak with them with no obligation on their part and will help educate them on all of their options.