With the number of short sales steadily increasing in many housing markets over the past few years, chances are high that youll encounter this type of sale in your home search. Short sales are now common in many markets.

Or, you may be one of the many homeowners considering the short sale option for your home.

While at one time short sales were viewed as too complex and burdensome to deal with from a buyers perspective, this isnt necessarily the case today.

With the help of an educated and experienced real estate agent, a short sale is not only manageable, but can result in a great deal on the home of your dreams. And for a seller whos facing foreclosure, a short sale can be the best outcome in a bad situation.

This material here covers the basics. But if youre going down this route as a buyer or seller, its absolutely critical to work with an agent who understands short sales.

RE/MAX agents lead the market in experience and education, so youve come to the right place.

A short sale is a real estate transaction in which the bank or lender agrees to let the homeowners sell their home for less than their loan balance. In some cases, the sellers dont need to pay back the difference between what they owe and the proceeds of the sale.

Recent changes in the industry have streamlined the short sale process, making this sort of transaction a popular alternative for both buyers and sellers. Additionally, banks are much more interested in facilitating short sales and avoiding foreclosures that result in placing the properties back on their books.

Who benefits in a short sale?

In many cases, short sales present a proverbial win-win situation. Heres how:

Buyers receive a good price on the home.

Lenders avoid a costly foreclosure. The potential loss from a foreclosure is typically higher than a loss from a short sale.

How it works

Say you owe $200,000 on your home and can no longer make the mortgage payments. One option is to refinance your home and secure a lower payment based on a longer term or better interest rates. But if your property has lost value due to local market conditions (say it would sell for only $150,000), refinancing isnt feasible. If the bank agrees to a sale at $150,000, its called a short sale.

Although short sales have become more common in recent years, banks dont always grant them. In general, they approve short sales in theses situations:

Seller owes more on the mortgage than the homes current market value.

Mortgage is in or near default status.

Seller has no assets.

However, different banks and lenders have different requirements. So sellers should discuss the short sale option with their lender.

Short sales can present a great deal for buyers. But the process is a bit more complicated than a normal home purchase, and it will take patience and help from an experienced agent.

Short sales often look like other listings in the MLS, except they may have a lower asking price than comparable properties.

The term short sale is a bit of a misnomer, though, as this type of transaction can take much longer to complete than a standard home sale.

The buying process is similar to a standard purchase. You still apply for financing the same way, and order inspections the same way, for instance. But complications in the selling process arent uncommon, and youll need patience and a solid real estate agent to deal with them.

The good news, though, is that times have changed. Many banks have streamlined their processes for short sales, making it much simpler and less time consuming for buyers and sellers. Market data shows that the time it takes to close a short sale has steadily decreased over the past few years.

Why you need an experienced agent

For many reasons, choosing a real estate agent who has experience with short sales makes a tremendous difference. An experienced agent may already have the right contacts within the lenders local office, and most likely has already helped buyers through the process.

Possible short sale hurdles an agent can help you navigate:

Second mortgages: These can pose problems because a second lender may not agree to the terms set between the primary lender and the seller.

Mortgage insurance: If the seller has mortgage insurance on their loan, the mortgage insurance company will need to approve the short sale.

Other liens on the property: A lien is a claim by an outside person or company on a property for money owed. Liens pose hurdles whether the transaction is a short sale or not, and will have to be addressed before the property can be transferred to a new owner.

Government-backed loans: If the home sellers loan was a government-backed loan, such as an FHA loan, this can cause delays and hurdles because the government will need to be involved in approvals.

HOAs: HOAs can present complications because the lender might not pay fees associated with the HOA transfer from the seller to the new owner. Your real estate agent can help put a plan in place for paying HOA transfer fees, document costs and any unpaid dues.

Working with an agent who understands the short sale process saves you stress and time spent dealing with obstacles that often come up along the way.

Tips for choosing a top-notch agent

Using an agent is important in any real estate transaction, and even more so in a short sale. A skilled agent will be able to prepare for obstacles and move through them as quickly as possible.

When choosing an agent, its important to:

1. Look for training and education specific to short sales, such as Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource (SFR) or Five Star credentials.

2. Look for experience helping buyers purchase short sales in your area

Its equally important to be comfortable with your agent and use all the same tips noted in the Tips on Choosing and Working with a Realtor.

Ultimately, your agent can mean the difference between a successful short sale and a huge, frustrating disappointment.

The Short Sale Buyers Checklist

Hire an agent with experience closing short sales.

Get prequalified for a mortgage.

Get a home inspection, but understand that most lenders will sell only as is. The inspection can help you decide whether the short sale price is reasonable, given the cost of repairs needed.

Understand who is paying the agents commission and whether you have to make up any differences to your agent.

Submit documentation to the lender.

Have plenty of patience, but balance it with persistence. Keep in mind that banks have grown much better at processing short sales, which is good news for you.

A short sale often presents a good option for homeowners who are in danger of foreclosure or in default because of documented financial hardship.

The benefits of a short sale include:

1. A less severe hit to your credit history than what youd experience with a foreclosure.

2. You continue to live in your house until the sale takes place.

3. In some cases, banks are offering homeowners cash incentives to do a short sale (to help with sales and moving expenses).

Because your credit history wont take as long to recover with a short sale as it would with a foreclosure an average of two years versus seven years the short sale option is great for sellers who want to own a home again in the near future.

Has your bank already contacted you?

Some banks have launched programs to prequalify homeowners for short sales. Through their records and housing data, they identify borrowers on their books who are in negative-equity situations. In this case, some are reaching out to borrowers in an attempt to further streamline the short sale process.

This makes it much easier for you, the seller, to proceed with a short sale.

Compiling your short sale package

Short sales require different paperwork than a normal home sale. In some instances, as mentioned above, your bank may have already qualified you for a short sale. In other cases, you and your agent will need to submit certain paperwork to your lender.

Your lender then decides whether or not to approve your request for a short sale.

Just what goes in a short sale package? Each lender is different, but in general, you will need: HUD-1 or preliminary net sheet

Completed financial statement

Letter of authorization to let your agent speak to the bank

Letter that explains your financial hardship

Two years of tax returns

Two years of W-2s

Last two months of bank statements

Keep in mind that banks processes vary, and the above list is a general representation of what many will want to see.

New federal guidelines shorten the wait

Finding an experienced real estate agent to guide you through your short sale is extremely important. When interviewing potential agents, ask about experience specific to the short sale process in your area.

In the past, the notoriously long waiting game for short sales deterred many buyers from attempting them.

But times have changed. Many banks have streamlined the process and removed the barriers that have hamstrung short sales in the past. Some are even prequalifying borrowers to get the ball rolling faster.

In addition, federal guidelines have helped shorten the wait for mortgages owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These are great changes for buyers and sellers, because it means there are regulations in place to help shorten the process.

A short sale may be a great option for you. The key is to find an experienced agent who can help you pursue the purchase or sale with confidence.