Banks all require that you provide them with a certain set of documents in a Short Sale package. The following are the documents that most banks all require before they entertain a Short Sale

1.) A hardship letter from the homeowner outlining what is causing missed payments and what the homeowner has done to try to change the situation.

The letter should start with a brief identification of the property, the loan number and a sincere apology for the situation.

Then the homeowner should tell in their own words exactly what caused the missed payments. Extensive medical bills? Job loss? Did the homeowner retire, cutting income substantially? Has an adjustable rate loan readjusted? Is the home underwater on its mortgage? Has the homeowner been transferred to another part of the country and the home is not selling? All of these are valid hardships that can be explained in a letter to the Lender’s Loss Mitigation Department.

Also include a description of any efforts the homeowner has made to resolve the problem. Has a new job been found? Have they eliminated all discretionary spending?

2.) Everyone who contributes to the household income should submit their two most recent pay stubs. This can be payment from an annuity, child support, alimony, and any commission income from the last few months.

3.) The bank will also want to see profit and loss statements and balance sheets from any business the homeowner might own.

4.) In order to get an idea of the homeowner’s spending habits, the bank will want to see your last two months’ bank statements. If the homeowner has a lot of credit card debt, they might be able to get a debt counselor to work with the Lenders to restructure the debt to have lower interest rates and monthly payments or forgive some of the debt altogether.

5.) Tax returns from the previous two years. The bank wants to see these so they can get an idea of the homeowner’s financial security as well as their ability to make good on their debts. This also comes in handy for the bank because they can see if the homeowner has any resources that the lender can tap into if they foreclose on the property and decide to pursue a deficiency judgment against the homeowner.

6.) The bank also wants to see a realistic budget for the homeowner. If the homeowner’s budget is $300 above or below balanced on average, they might be able to restructure their finances if they prefer to save the house.

7.) The bank will also want to see a listing agreement with an asking price. The listing should include the agents normal commission as well as standard closing costs. In almost every case, Lenders will pay closing costs and commissions to agents if they approve a Short Sale.

8.) Your offer. You should also provide the bank with your power of attorney that gives you the ability to negotiate with the bank and list the property with a real estate agent on the owner’s behalf. If you don’t have the documents, you won’t be able to do these types of deals.

9.) Power of Attorney. You must have an authorization form giving you or your negotiator permission to talk to the Lender. This is actually the first document that you should obtain from the homeowner so that you can obtain any special instructions from the Lender before the Short Sale package is submitted.

Just collect these documents and you are well on your way to getting a short sale done!

Learn more about short sale investing. Stop by Bob Massey’s site where you can find out all about how to do a short sale and what they can do for your lifestyle!

With mortgage rates at all-time lows, and a huge increase in foreclosures, it is no surprise that many apartment-dwellers are ready to become homeowners. Buying your first home is very exciting, but also very scary and ripe for disaster. Before making the biggest investment of your life, use the tips below to make the process easy and error-free.

Rent or Buy: That is the age-old question. Arguments can be made for either, depending on your financial situation. The one issue that first-time buyers seem to forget is affordability. You may think you can afford the payments, but that is just one expense associated with owning a home. Maintenance and taxes can cost quite a bit more than expected. If you live in an apartment, the cost of maintenance is included in your rent, but homeowners pay out-of-pocket for repairs. Taxes are just over 1% of the assessed value of your home. That can add up to thousands each year. Still, there is one major benefit to owning a home: equity. The money you put into the home is not lost. You are adding value to your home and investing for the future. There is another nice bonus in the form of a large mortgage interest deduction on your taxes each year. This means you will get a little extra money back from your investment (or at least owe the government less).

Get educated: Ignorance may be bliss, but it is definitely not the best method for a successful home-buying experience. It may seem better to rush things and get a real estate agent right away, but what if you are not even sure what kind of home you want? Or how much you can afford? There are websites that can calculate your mortgage payments and let you see what kind of homes are in your price range. Free Internet open house searches are plentiful, and most have pictures of the interiors of the homes. You can even go to open houses on the weekends. Practically every street corner has an open house sign, and even if the home is outside your price range, seeing various houses will give you a better idea of what you want. Also, try to research the home-buying process. Find out the different types of loans available, the real estate lingo, and get an overview of the steps to owning a home. Read the Real Estate section of the newspaper, or check out some free books at the library. There is a wealth of information out there, so why not gather as much as you can?

Know Your Credit Score: The first thing any lender will do before pre-approving you is check your credit score. 650 used to be ok, but now even 700 is borderline. Before you end up with rejection staring you in the face, do your own credit self-check. As many a TV ad will tell you nowadays, you are entitled to one free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus. It may cost a few dollars to get your credit score, but it will be worth it in the long run. Once you know any weaknesses in your credit, you can develop a repair plan. Additionally, you need to take an in-depth look at your finances. Do you have enough in your savings to pay off most or all of your debt? A good debt-to-equity ratio is 40%. If you are not even sure what that ratio is, then see the tip about doing your research. For first-time buyers, there are options that might help you if your credit and finances are not exactly perfect. FHA loans only require a 3. 5% down payment, and having a close family member with good credit sign on as a co-borrower will help ensure that you get the home loan.

Don’t Let Yourself Be Bullied: A typical first-time buyer mistake is to let their lender talk them into a certain loan right off the bat. An educated buyer, however, will know about the types of loans going in (15-year vs. 30-year, ARM vs. Fixed). Never allow your lender to bully you into a financial situation that makes you uncomfortable. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Also, remember that you do not have to get your loan from the same lender who pre-approved you. Always go to more than one lender and find the best deal. Make sure your lender is familiar with first-time homebuyer programs as well. Another potential bully is your real estate agent. You might think they are working for you, but the honest truth is that they are in business for themselves. Agents make money through commissions from sales. This means that you could end up with an agent who is a little too eager to get you into a house. Never let yourself be rushed! Another sneaky trick is when an agent shows you more expensive homes first. Those houses might be a little out of your price range, but the agent is hoping you will fall in love and buy the house regardless. A good real estate agent will work to find what you want in your price range, or at least be honest if your expectations are too high.

Compare Homes: Since almost any house can seem like an upgrade from an apartment, it is easy for a first-time homebuyer to want the first house they see. This is a big mistake. Compare, compare, compare. If your agent or the seller’s agent tells you there are multiple bids on the house, it could be a tactic to get you to buy, or it could be legitimate. Talk to your agent about the consequences of making an offer. Your initial offer is never set in stone, but make sure your agent is clear about the window of time for backing out. If you are going to make an offer on a home, visit it more than once, at different times of day if possible. Even simply driving by the house at night might give you a different perspective on the neighborhood. Be sure to take pictures inside the house so that you have a reference when those nagging questions come up.

With so many wonderful homes on the market, the choices for a first-time buyer might seem overwhelming. Follow these tips and you will be ahead of the game. A house is one investment you must take seriously, but it can be truly rewarding when you finally have the keys to your dream home.

The author enjoys writing about home improvement, marketing, and health subjects. Pay a visit to his newest web site that discusses fabric roller shades and bamboo roman shades and more.

The chief predictable way to pay money for real estate is through a real estate agent, who will give you an idea about a variety of properties that are based on your specific criteria.

These requirements could include what areas you want to live in as well as the price you’re going to pay.

There is not anything erroneous with going the straight method of working with your real estate agent, on the other hand keep in mind that there are many other imaginative ways to come across property with not having to rely on a real estate agent.

If you come to a decision on a realtor, keep in mind that they work off of a fee that can be anywhere from 6% to 10%, and is dependent on the home as well as the realtor that you decide upon.

They can give you recommendation on the good things as well as bad things that you want to look for in a probable property. Some of these negatives might not be so perceptible if you’re not well-informed in this business.

The path of acquiring real estate through an agent is by far the straightest and most suitable course for a person to take specially when looking for aid in buying houses.

Even experienced investors sometimes use an agent because they spend so much time regularly monitoring the housing market.

A Realtor can give you present information on trends in the area as well as let you know how long it’s been on the market and whether the properties are lessening or increasing.

Of course a real estate agent is not required; you can generally come across homes for sale in the area you want by just reading the classified ads in the newspaper. You could even drive in the area and find for sale signs that are in front yards of houses.

Melvin Bojacavich has been an investor for over 30 years. He has a blog that is about Denver Co foreclosures. It is an intuitive blog on the Denver Co foreclosures market and how investors can capitalize in this region.