Category: Orlando Short Sales

Don’t be Embarrassed About Doing a Short Sale.

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

When the real estate market crashed, many people were left owing a lot more on their house than it was actually worth. Some also lost their jobs. It didn’t matter what income bracket they were in, the crash affected upper, middle and lower income families alike.

In other words, you’re not alone. So, there’s really no reason at all to feel embarrassed about doing a short sale. And, there is nothing dishonest about it, as some people feel; a short sale is merely a tool to help you take control of your financial situation, rather than letting your house go to foreclosure, which often has a more damaging effect on your credit rating.

How will people react if I Short Sale my house?

Friends and neighbors are no longer so quick to judge those who have “short sale” or “foreclosure” signs on their front lawns. Everyone appreciates that times are tough and we’ve all become more sympathetic to those who are struggling financially.

It’s distressing for people who have always had good financial habits to suddenly find they are unable to keep their mortgage payments up-to-date. If you find yourself in a precarious financial situation due to the housing crash, doing a short sale may be the answer. No one wants to be burdened with a huge debt that is difficult to keep up the payments on.

What will my lender do if I need a short sale?

While some lenders are approachable, allowing homeowners to re-finance or negotiate new terms that will allow them to make regular payments again, other lenders aren’t so flexible, leaving you with only three choices;

  1. pay up on the spot,
  2. face foreclosure or
  3. do a short sale.

If the latter is what you’re faced with, a short sale will help you to keep your dignity while you sell your home and make a fresh start.

Who can I turn to for help?

An Orlando real estate agent who is experienced in short sales, like those here at Orlando Realty Consultants, will help to make the short sale process as smooth and painless as possible. We are trained and knowledgeable about all aspects of a short sale and can answer any questions you may have about selling your home in this way.  There is no need to feel embarrassed about calling us as we work with folks every day who are going through the short sales process.

Call us at 407-902-7750 to discuss your options, we are certain we can help.

 

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Orlando Short Sale | 1330 Sun Meadow Dr. Orlando Fl 32824

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

1330 Sun Meadow Dr. Orlando Fl 32824


This property is located in the very desirable subdivision of Harbor Lakes in the 32824 zip code. The gated community with neighborhood Clubhouse and pool is a great home at a great price for any family wanting to live in this area.

It’s a 2 story home with 4 bedrooms and 2 and 1/2 bathrooms and 1,946 sq ft of living space.

Here are just a few of the property’s features

* Large master suite with sitting area

* Open Kitchen with tons of cabinet space

* Vaulted Ceilings

* Solid wood cabinetry throughout

* Dining and great room designed for family gatherings and entertainment.

*Lots of natural lighting

* Huge fenced in backyard

* 2-car garage

* Community Clubhouse and pool

Easy access to schools, first-rate shops, and restaurants. A must-see!

Call to make your appointment, You DO NOT want to miss out on this Great opportunity! BANK-APPROVED PRICE!!

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Great News for Orlando Short Sales!

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 has been Extended

The mortgage debt relief act has officially been extended for another year. This is a law that exempts those who are in a foreclosure or short sale situation [primary residences only] from having to pay federal income taxes on the deficiency balance of their mortgage after the transaction is complete.

This law was passed back in 2007 right when the Florida real estate market crashed. The main purpose of the law was to allow people to complete the short sale on their home and not be taxed on the deficiency as if it were income. This is a huge incentive for homeowners that are upside down to short sale their home.

I know many people have been holding their breath as the ending of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 would have signaled a harmful blow to the real estate industry. Well now they can breath a sigh of relief, the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act is now set to expire on January 1, 2014 and only applies to only a primary residence. Most homeowners that were on the fence about doing a short sale on their home would have probably chosen to file for bankruptcy as opposed to working something out with the lender.

Here’s an example of exactly what this means; Let’s say that a struggling homeowner sells their home for $100,000 and they owe $175,000, they are not taxed on the $75,000 that the bank had to write off. This is great news for homeowners that are struggling. Prior to the Act, homeowners were taxed on the forgiven debt, known as debt discharge income. If this act wasn’t in place, even people that have lost their homes to foreclosure would be taxed on the deficiency balance between what the house owed and what it sold for.Unlike any other liens or judgments, I.R.S. liens will follow you for the rest of your life and if you try to avoid paying them off, the I.R.S. will garnish your wages.

 Orlando Realtors are Thrilled that “the Act” was extended

For realtors like myself that specialize in doing Orlando short sales, this great news. It means that short sales are still going to be the best way to go for struggling homeowners who can no longer afford to pay their mortgage. I would imagine that BK attorneys were hoping that the act wouldn’t be extended so that more homeowners would have opted for filing bankruptcy as opposed to short sale. at the end of the day, it’s a win win for all parties involved in the transaction.

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The Truth About How a Short Sale Will Affect Your Credit Score

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

So exactly how will a short sale impact your credit score?  The short answer is a short sale can have less of an effect on your credit score than a foreclosure. But, it must be done correctly.

Should I do a short sale?

Short sales can happen if a lender agrees to accept less than the amount owed against the home because there is not enough equity in it to pay all costs of the sale.

Firstly, it’s important to get legal and tax advice before making any decision. A real estate agent experienced in Orlando short sales can be of invaluable help to you as you negotiate with your lender. It’s important to note that not all lenders will agree to a short sale.

Although there are a few lenders that will agree to a short sale if the homeowner is current, most lenders won’t even consider a short sale unless the mortgage holder is at least 30 days behind on their payment.

What tips should I know for negotiating my short sale.

When negotiating a short sale it’s important to be aware that there is no guarantee that the lender will accept the short sale offer. You should also know that short sales can take several months to complete sometimes depending on who the lender is.

If the lender does not agree to a short sale there are other options available to the homeowner such as a “deed in lieu” which is basically a voluntary foreclosure in which you sign the property back over to the bank.

Other options include trying to negotiate a loan modification or filing for bankruptcy. If neither of these options work than the property will most likely be foreclosed on and sold at public auction to the highest bidder.

If your request is approved, ask your lender to report the short sale as “paid in full,” as part of the negotiation.

So what’s the impact on my credit score?

Many sources report that a short sale has about the same impact on your credit score as a foreclosure when the seller is in arrears; however, that’s not always the case.  With some short sales, sellers report that their credit score only dropped by 100 points.

The biggest advantage of a short sale is that you will be able to qualify to buy another home within two years as opposed to five to seven years after a foreclosure.

Talk to an Orlando real estate agent experienced in short sales to discuss the possibility of doing a short sale of your home.

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Orlando Homeowners Rush to Short Sale Their Homes before the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 Expires

Posted on by Jenny Zamora

Orlando homeowners are in a panic to sell their homes before the end of the year when the Mortgage Tax Debt Relief Act of 2007 is set to expire.

There’s a chance that the Act could be extended but, if Congress fails to extend the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 before the end of the year, homeowners will have to start paying income taxes on the portion of their mortgage that is currently being forgiven in a foreclosure, short sale or principal reduction.

That would mean that a homeowner who sells a $150,000 home for $100,000 in a foreclosure, could be taxed by the IRS on the remaining $50,000. If you’re in the 25 per cent tax bracket that would mean paying $12,500 in taxes and similar taxes would apply to forgiven amounts in short sales and principal reductions.

Consequently, Orlando homeowners are rushing to short sell their homes before the end of the year. More than 50,000 homeowners face foreclosure each month so, should the tax breaks expire, a large number of mortgage borrowers would be affected.

Over the past three years, the number of short sales has tripled to about a half million per year. Under the terms of the foreclosure abuse settlement, about one million borrowers may have their mortgage debt lowered through principal reductions over the next couple of years. The cost of the settlement would be $25 billion.

It is speculated that, now that the election is over, there will be very little legislation moving forward before the end of the year. Plus, the cost of a one-year extension is estimated at $1.3 billion, which makes it a huge point of contention.

Others feel that Congress will act before the end of the year because both houses agree that the Mortgage Tax Debt Relief Act needs to be renewed and it’s only a matter of how quickly the process will move forward.

Some Orlando homeowners may have nothing to worry about, as not all borrowers with forgiven mortgage debt will have to pay extra taxes. Even if the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act expires on December 31st, special circumstances could exempt them. Specifically, no taxes would be owed if a debt is discharged in a bankruptcy or in the case of a homeowner being insolvent, that is, they had more debt than assets at the time the debt was forgiven.

In addition, certain states treat foreclosures differently so that some borrowers are protected against paying the tax.

 

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