Subscribe to Phoenix Arizona Real Estate BlogNews FeedSubscribe to Phoenix Arizona Real Estate BlogComments

Browse > Home / Seller Info / Short Sale Options

Short Sale Options


Many people miss one mortgage payment and shrug it off as a one-time thing. The next month predictably rolls around and nothing changes. Now, it’s two missed payments. And it only gets worse from there. Soon enough, the letters and phone calls are unavoidable and foreclosure – that nasty word you never thought you’d experience – is a very real possibility.

When you get behind on mortgage payments – even just one payment – it’s time to take action. You should at the very least make a phone call and speak to a short sale specialist about what you need to do going forward. I will be happy to make recommendations about how you should proceed and whether or not it’s going to be necessary to put your home on the market or work with your lender/s.

When it comes to your home, you can’t be too cautious. Staying on top of the situation can be the difference between long, sleepless nights and a safe, secure future. If you’re sitting at home right now and thinking, “I may be in trouble, but not yet,” then you need to take action. Don’t let that first missed mortgage payment snowball into something you can’t control.

Feel free to call me direct and let me help you understand the logic behind short sales and guide you through the process of getting back on track.

Contact Your Mortgage Lender/Servicer

Why Contact Your Lender/Servicer?
Your loan servicer is the company that handles collection of payments and the day-to-day tasks involved with other mortgage-related processes like collection and payment of homeowner’s insurance and property tax payments. Many servicers understand that individuals and families can face temporary job loss, serious illness, or other major life events that can impact their ability to pay their mortgage. It is important that you contact your mortgage servicer to explain your situation if you anticipate any difficulty in making your mortgage payment. Many servicers are willing to work with you if you contact them immediately. Be sure to have information prepared for the conversation so that the company is best able to assist you when you call.

To determine who your mortgage servicer is:
  • Check your monthly mortgage billing statement
  • Check your payment coupon book

To find out how to reach your servicer:

Contact your servicer!
Call your servicer today, and ask to speak with the loss mitigation department.

Information to Have Ready When You Call:
Gather the following financial information:

  • Your loan account number
  • A brief description of your circumstances
  • Recent income documents such as:
    • Pay stubs
    • Benefit statements from Social Security, disability, unemployment, retirement or public assistance
    • If self-employed, have your tax returns or a year-to-date profit and loss statement available for reference
  • List of household expenses
Be prepared to answer the following questions:

  • Your loan account number
  • What caused you to miss your mortgage payment(s)?
  • Do you have any documents to back up your explanation for falling behind?
  • How have you tried to resolve the problem?
  • Is your problem temporary, long-term or permanent?
  • What changes in your situation do you see in the short term and in the long term?
  • What other financial issues may be stopping you from getting back on track with your mortgage?
  • What would you like to see happen?
  • Do you want to keep the home?
  • What type of payment arrangement would be feasible for you?

What to expect:
  • Expect to have more than one telephone conversation with your loan servicer.
  • Your loan servicer will usually mail you a “loan workout” package containing information, forms and instructions.
  • Complete the forms and return them to your mortgage servicer quickly if you want to be considered for assistance.
  • The completed package will be reviewed before the servicer talks with you about a solution.
  • If you do not hear back from the loan servicer in a reasonable amount of time after submitting the workout package (generally 7-10 days), contact your loan servicer again and continue to follow up.

What to do when working with your servicer:
  • Keep notes of all your communications with the loan servicer including:
    • Date and time of contact
    • Nature of the contact (face-to-face, phone, e-mail, fax, or mail)
    • First and last name of the representative
    • The outcome
  • If you make any oral request to your loan servicer, follow up with a letter reiterating the oral request.
  • Send your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, so you can document that the loan servicer received your correspondence.
  • Keep copies of your letter and any enclosures.
  • Meet all deadlines the loan servicer gives you.
  • Stay in your home during the process because you may not qualify for certain types of assistance if you move out.
  • If you do not hear back from the loan servicer in a reasonable amount of time after communicating with the company, contact it again.
  • Continue to follow up