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Short Sales: Has Their Time Finally Arrived?

Last week, RealtyTrac released its Q2 2011 U.S. Foreclosure Sales Report. The report confirmed what we are hearing in the marketplace “ banks are beginning to look more favorably on short sales as option to foreclosure.The report dissected the sales of distressed properties in the second quarter of 2011. Here are several of their findings: § Sales of homes that were in some stage of foreclosure or bank owned accounted for 31 percent of all U.S. residential sales in the second quarter of 2011, down from nearly 36 percent of all sales in the first quarter. § A total of 102,407 pre-foreclosure homes (short sales) sold in the second quarter, an increase of 19 percent from the previous quarter. § A total of 162,680 REO homes (foreclosures) sold in the second quarter, virtually unchanged from the first quarter. § Short sales on average sold for a discount of 21 percent below the average sales price of non-foreclosure homes. § REOs on average sold at a discount of nearly 40 percent below the average sales price of non-foreclosure homes.This could be a great sign that banks are finally realizing the advantages of short sales over foreclosures.Bloomberg.com quoted Rick Sharga, senior vice president of RealtyTrac, in an article covering the report:œThis is a glimmer of hope that lenders are getting more realistic. It™s a win for borrowers who avoid foreclosure, buyers who get a house in better condition and banks that lose less money, which is also a win for taxpayers.

Bottom Line

Banks are beginning to do more short sales. It is time for everyone involved to help in this endeavor. Tomorrow, we will have a short sale expert, Christopher Reale, blog on gaining the right mindset to do just that.

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