Palm Coast Real Estate – Short Sale Update – March 2009

Palm Coast Real Estate Short Sale Information

With the current market conditions in Palm Coast, Florida many homeowners and banks are now entering into what are called short sales.

Palm Coast Single Family Home Statistics:

55% of all Listed properties under $200K are Short Sales.

66% of all listed properties under $150K are Short Sales

71% of all listed properties under $125K are Short Sales

72% of all listed properties under $100K are Short Sales

Short sales in Palm Coast, Florida can be a great way to pick up an incredible bargain or get yourself into much unwanted trouble.  Before you decide to make an offer on a home that is declared as a short sale, make sure you are educated on the subject to avoid painful headaches in the future…please read below for more information on short sales currently available in Palm Coast, Florida and the surround areas.

What is a Short Sale?

A short sale means the seller’s lender is possibly willing to accept a discounted payoff to release an existing mortgage. Just because a property is listed with short sale terms does not mean the lender will accept your offer, even if the seller accepts it.   The process for getting a decision from the bank regarding your offer on a short sale can be in most cases 3-6 months, however it can take up to a year to receive an answer from the bank and you should be prepared for this.

Click Below to Search for Palm Coast Short Sales by Price Range

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Be aware that the seller will need to be in default, to have stopped making mortgage payments, before a lender will consider a short sale. Also, the seller might have over-encumbered, owe more than the home is worth, so a discounted price might bring the price in line with market value, not below it. It is always important to have a professional title search performed on a short sale property, and to be safe, you may want to pay to have the search done prior to making your offer to know what you are getting into. (if the home has more than 1 debtor attached then the chances of getting a short sale approved declines…too many cooks in the kitchen)

Important Short Sale Notice: 

 

Based on current data approximately 10-15% of short sales that go pending in Palm Coast/Flagler County, Florida ever make it to closing. Please do your homework and work with an experienced REALTOR when purchasing or selling “Short Sale” properties.

 

Short Sale Prices May Be Arbitrary and False

 

The price that is assigned a short sale is determined by the owner or listing agent in most cases.  Please keep in mind that these are not always approved prices by the bank and the price that the bank is willing to accept for these properties may be much higher than the full listing price on the property. Unfortunately in our current market…less ethical agents may place properties on the market that look to good to be true…and they are.  There are currently no guidelines in place by NAR or local MLS associations to hold sellers and agents of short sale properties accountable for the advertising of these properties. This can be very confusing and misleading for buyers and other sellers that need to sell their homes.

Short sales are complicated and many factors are involved.  Not only must the bank agree to the price of the property, but the bank also determines whether the owner of the property will qualify for a short sale. 

 

NOT ALL OWNERS QUALIFY FOR SHORT SALES.

 

The only way to find out what a bank will accept on a short sale is to submit an offer, but you can also ask qualifying questions that will help you determine if you are wasting your time or chasing a carrot that will never materialize. Working with an agent that is experienced with the process of short sales and the games played by some of the owner’s and listing agents will save you many headaches and heartaches when purchasing these types of properties.

When purchasing short sales…you must be patient.  It can take up to 6 months to get an answer from the bank on if your offer is accepted.  Keep in mind that you may also lose out on other excellent values and properties while waiting to know if your offer has been accepted.  Short sales are not for the faint of heart or for buyers who may become emotionally attached to a specific property.  If you do not feel that short sales are right for you…bank owned properties are often times a better value and the process is much smoother.

When looking at short sales make sure to have all of your financing or proof of cash funds in order..otherwise you are wasting your time. Short Sale and bank owned properties will not entertain any offers without proof of pre-approved financing or proof of cash funds.

 

Kristi Ross – REALTOR - With over 12 years of experience in buying, selling, managing & investing in real property personally in addition to being a very active, full time  REALTOR in Palm Coast/Flagler County, Florida for 7 years ….I have learned that information is power and I am an advocate for customer empowerment.

Please feel free to search the MLS for free at my website www.Palm-Coast-Hot-Properties.com.  You can sign up to be on the list of first to know when properties meeting your ideal criteria are newly listed, go pending or are sold.

*DICLAIMER: The above statistical data was gathered from the Flagler county MLS and is not to be guaranteed reliable or accurate and is for informational purposes only.

**Disclaimer: The search homes information is provided through IDX and Kristi L. Ross PA, Hawk Beach Realty, My Broker or associates are not in anyway responsible for any mistaken information provided.