Financial Definitions: Foreclosure Vs. Short Sale

There’s a lot of talk these days about foreclosures and short sales in our poor housing market, and it can seem at first like these two words are interchangeable. Overall, both mean that the seller cannot afford payments on the house, and the home must be sold; so it’s tempting to lump them together. However, foreclosures and short sales are actually more different than they appear. Let’s look at both definitions in more detail.

Foreclosure

Broadly, a foreclosure is a legal act that banks may take on a homeowner who defaults on his or her loan. After a certain period of continuous default, the bank begins the foreclosure process, which is the start to the bank’s repossession of the house. When all the legal hoops are finished, the bank owns the home and can re-sell it to another buyer, usually at a low sales price to get the house off their books.

Short Sale

A short sale, on the other hand, occurs when a bank agrees to let the owner sell the house for less than it’s worth. The short sale option is usually pursued when the owner is in default or struggling to make payments, and sometimes the foreclosure process has already begun. Along the course of the short sale process, the bank must approve the sales price, which often makes the short sale a lengthy process.

The Differences

The important difference between foreclosure and short sale is simple: in foreclosures, the bank takes possession of the house to re-sell, and in short sales, the owner sells the house for less than it’s worth to get out from under the loan.

What Do They Mean for Me?

For homeowners who are experiencing financial difficulties, getting rid of a costly mortgage may be the only option to staying afloat. In this case, both a foreclosure and a short sale could be options. Since foreclosures come with all sorts of legal fees for both the owner and the bank, short sales are often preferred. Homeowners must simply contact their bank to see if a short sale is an option on their loan. (Side note: While discussing the short sale option, owners may also wish to see if refinancing could allow them to keep the home.)

On the other hand, potential homebuyers may see foreclosures and short sales as opportunities. Often times, a foreclosed home and a short sale home will be sold at a better price than other homes in the area. However, the processes are slightly different. A foreclosed home can be a rather quick deal since the buyer will deal directly with the bank (who is the seller). A short sale, though, can be a very lengthy process because both the seller and the bank must be involved; first, the seller must agree to the sales price, and then the bank must approve it as well. The process can take many months, especially with so many short sales in process nowadays (banks are very busy).

So that’s it: the skinny on foreclosures and short sales. There’s a lot more to each process, but knowing the generalities behind each can help you get started in the right direction.

Any additional details that should be stressed? Let us know below!

Photo Source