A Brief Q and A Guide to Short Sales

Real estate investing is not just a get rich schemebankruptcy can also go for this kind of sale for these
wherein people can buy and sell houses in the blink ofproperties.
an eye. For the most part, this type of investment· Question: What are the requirements needed in
venture requires a lot of patience, determination, andthis type of sale? The seller of the property needs
hard work in order to achieve its full potential. Theseto prepare certain documents in order to do a
three qualities are particularly essential in the field ofdiscounted sale. However, these requirements
short sales.depend on the type of lender that the seller is dealing
In order to explain what a short sale really is, herewith.
are some questions that a lot of new real estate· Question: How does a real estate investor profit
investors ask when faced with this topic:from this kind of sale? The investor serves as the
· Question: Why is it called a short sale?buyer in this process. Getting the bank to approve a
Answer: This type of arrangement got its name fromshort sale enables the buyer to acquire the property
its setup wherein a seller's property is sold for lessat a discounted rate. Therefore, a buyer can earn
than what he owes in order to pay his debts to afrom a home either by selling it quickly at a marginally
lender. The profit from the sale of the property fallshigher price, or by fixing it up and then reselling it.
short of the balance that a homeowner owes a· Question: How long does an investor have to wait
lender.until the approval of a short sale? Pre-foreclosure
· Question: Who can qualify in this kind of sale?properties should have at least a 90-day window
Answer: Sellers who are eligible candidates for shortbefore applying for a short sale. The approval
sales are homeowners who have accumulated a debtprocess can take from two to four months
that is bigger than the value of the property. Peopledepending on the number of loans or mortgages that
who do not have enough sources of equity in orderwere taken out of the property. This is where
to undergo foreclosure are also eligible for this option.investors can use really high levels of patience.
In addition, individuals who are on the verge of