If you’ve been looking to buy in the Prescott area, you know that the real estate market right now is a little crazy.
For sellers, it’s good news because we are at the top of our market and you can sell your home for top market value, capitalizing on your investment.
For buyer’s, the booming market can make it difficult to afford the house you require to accommodate you and your family, and not have to sacrifice some of your living needs.
This has led to many buyer’s looking into and considering short sale purchases, or foreclosure purchases. However, this also leads to the question: What’s the difference? If you aren’t familiar with these types of sales and purchases, they can seem similar, but there’s actually a pretty big difference.
As unfortunate as it can be when homeowners fall behind on mortgage payments and must face the possibility of losing their homes, short sales and foreclosures aren’t just good for buyers, but also provide sellers options for moving on financially. The terms are often used interchangeably, but they’re quite different, with varying timelines and financial impact on the homeowner. Here’s a brief overview.
Short Sales:
A short sale comes into play when a homeowner needs to sell their home but the home is worth less than the remaining balance that they owe. The lender can allow the homeowner to sell the home for less than the amount owed, freeing the homeowner from the financial predicament.
On the buyer side, short sales typically take three to four months to complete and many of the closing and repair costs are shifted from the seller to the lender.
Foreclosures:
On the other hand, a foreclosure occurs when a homeowner can no longer make payments on their home so the bank begins the process of repossessing it. A foreclosure usually moves much faster than a short sale and is more financially damaging to the homeowner. After foreclosure the bank can sell the home in a foreclosure auction.
In Sum:
Short sales are better for both seller and buyer, leaving the seller more financially sound and giving the buyer the chance to make a good deal on a home. Foreclosures, on the other hand, are usually worse for sellers and buyers than short sales. For sellers, it damages them financially and for buyers it’s a riskier purchase because homes are often bought sight unseen with no inspection or warranty.