Many home owners in Minnesota have a hard time believing that they don’t have any equity in their home.  They wonder how it’s possible that they’ll need to negotiate a short sale if they want to move.  They tell me, “I purchased the house five years ago, surely I must have some equity” or “I put 10% down when I bought my Minneapolis home, am I really going to lose all that money?”  even sadder, “I remodeled the whole house after purchasing it, how can I not have any equity?”.   The reality is that the majority of home owners in Minnesota who purchased or did a cash out refinance between 2004 and 2010 will need the assistance of a Minneapolis real estate agent capable of negotiating a short sale if they want to sell their home.  Real estate prices have fallen dramatically across the Twin Cities and that includes the most prestigious communities of Edina, Minnetonka, Eden Prairie, Chanhassen, White Bear Lake and Apple Valley as well as the nicest Minneapolis neighborhoods such as Linden Hills, Calhoun/Isles, Kenwood and more. 

   So, now that you understand the unfortunate reality, you’re probably wondering what’s involved with negotiating a Minnesota short sale?  The first thing you’ll need to understand is that the banks will make this process frustrating for you, it is a slow process.  It doesn’t matter who your mortgage is with; Wells Fargo, ASC, Chase, TCF, USBank, Fifth Third Bank, Citibank or any other local or national lender.  They are all slow and they are all a pain to deal with.  The good news is that if you choose the right Minnesota real estate agent, the process will go a whole lot smoother.  Most Minneapolis real estate agents haven’t ever negotiated a short sale and they don’t understand the process so be sure to find a licensed Minnesota REALTOR who has successfully closed at least 10 short sales in Minnesota.   After you’ve selected a real estate agent, the home will be marketed much like a traditional home sale to find a potential buyer.  Finding a buyer for your house is the easy part, there are plenty of eager buyers looking to pick up a great deal on a Minneapolis condo or house.  After you receive an offer on the house you will need to provide your mortgage company with personal financial documents such as pay stubs, tax returns, a hardship letter and more.  Your real estate agent will compile all of your financial information and submit it to the bank along with the offer from your potential buyer.

  Your Minnesota real estate agent will be contacting your bank on a weekly basis to follow up on the status of your offer and they’ll be trying to push the offer through.  During this time, it’s likely that they will encourage you to keep the house on the market.  The reason for this is that it can take up to six months go get a short sale approved; there is a good chance that the buyer will lose patience and cancel their offer.  If this happens the hope is that you’ll have secured a back up offer which can replace the cancelled offer.   

  If all goes according to plan you’ll sell your house and eliminate any future financial liability associated with the sale. This is essential, after all what’s the point of negotiating a short sale if you’re stuck with a deficiency after the sale is completed?  Be sure to discuss your expectations with the Minnesota REALTOR you choose to assist you with the short sale.  Some real estate agents will push you to accept a deal even if it means that you’re stuck with a deficiency after the sale.  It’s not possible in all circumstances to eliminate all of your financial liability, but push hard for it.  It’s also recommended that you speak with a tax professional who can advise you on potential tax liability associated with a short sale.  For most sellers this isn’t an issue but there are cases where the seller will have a tax liability.  You can know more at http://minnesotaoptions.com

  Author bio :

  Minnesota Options (minnesotaoptions.com) is a Minneapolis based real estate consulting company assisting clients in Minnesota with short sales and foreclosure prevention.  Our Minneapolis, Minnesota short sale real estate agents are the most experienced short sale REALTORS in the state.  The agents we work with have successfully negotiated short sales with local and national mortgage lenders.

Minnesota Options (minnesotaoptions.com) is a Minneapolis based real estate consulting company assisting clients in Minnesota with short sales and foreclosure prevention. Our Minneapolis, Minnesota short sale real estate agents are the most experienced short sale REALTORS in the state. The agents we work with have successfully negotiated short sales with local and national mortgage lenders.