Loss Mitigation Short Sale Vs Loan Modification

Today's troubled economy and failing real estate market is causing many homeowners to be at risk for foreclosure. There are a variety of reasons that may cause homeowners to fall behind on their payments such as job loss, illness, divorce or poor money management. Whatever the cause, foreclosure should be avoided if at all possible. One alternative to foreclosure is a loss mitigation short sale. Short sale agreements must be negotiated with the lender; more specifically their loss mitigation department.

Before entering into loss mitigation short sale negotiations the lender will likely try to do a mortgage loan modification. There are many factors that the lender will carefully examine when considering a loan modification such as a borrowers credit rating, income and their overall ability to pay. If the lender feels that loan repayment is unlikely, they may consider a loss mitigation short sale. When this arrangement is negotiated, a sale amount is determined and agreed upon by both parties.

Upon sale of the home, the homeowner is released from the mortgage loan contract without causing as much damage to their credit rating as a foreclosure would cause. Using a mortgage loss mitigation specialist to assist with this procedure is a homeowners best option since they will look out for the homeowners best interest. There will still be some damage to the credit rating when using a loss mitigation short sale to avoid foreclosure, so it is best to consult with a professional for advice.

Loss mitigation short sale negotiations are usually not considered by the lenders loss mitigation department unless all other options are exhausted. The lenders have some very creative loan modification programs that may be a better solution than a short sale. The loss mitigation department will have clear guidelines in place regarding eligibility for short sale proceedings. The borrower will have to supply proof that the value of their property is less than what they owe on the loan. Additionally, the homeowner must be at least two months behind on their mortgage payments. Once in a while the lender will offer loss mitigation short sale options without going through the modification process if the homeowner is near default and has no means to meet their future payment obligations.

Homeowners that are facing foreclosure need to be proactive in order to save their homes. The best course of action is to enlist the help of an attorney or a loss mitigation specialist. These professionals can lead homeowners through loan modification proceedings or loss mitigation short sale negotiations. There is too much at stake for a homeowner to consider these negations without professional guidance. Louis Zhang, Mortgagesloanmodification dot com.