Lenders opting for Short Sale to avoid the expense of Foreclosures

Published On: August 19, 2011


Mortgage Servicers are increasingly opting to bypass the foreclosure process and are turning instead to short sales. Not only does this help with the recovery of the housing market, but a Short Sale is also is less damaging to the Seller's credit score and ability to qualify for a future home purchase. Here's an excerpt from an article posted today on HOUSINGWIRE.com:

Mortgage servicers contending with attorney general investigations and extended foreclosure delays turned more to short sales in the past year.

In August 2009, short sales accounted for 8% of all liquidations of distressed properties. That number grew to 25% by the middle of 2011, according to research from Moody's Investors Service

"To reduce their expenses and mitigate the high loss severity on liquidated loans, servicers are increasingly opting to bypass the foreclosure process and liquidate properties more quickly through a short sale," Moody's analysts said.

These transactions also do less damage to a borrower's credit score, dropping it between 50 and 200 points compared to an REO sale, which can slash the FICO score for the borrower as much as 400 points.

Borrowers who manage a short sale can buy a new home between one and two years as well, according to researchers. Those whose homes sell through REO must wait between five and seven.

"We can attribute the stabilization of average loss severities in part to a rising number of liquidations through short sale, which by reducing liquidation timelines, foreclosure expenses, and legal costs, can reduce the losses incurred on defaulted loans," Moody's said.