June 24, 2015

Another Wave of Short Sales on the Horizon?

Posted by martikilby under 2nd mortgage, Short Sale | Tags: , , , , , , |
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San Diego short sale specialist

According to Home.com’s April Local Market Index, 46% of the top U.S. markets have achieved full pricing recovery.  This would seem to indicate that short sales caused by negative equity are on the down-turn.  However, there are some new factors that might contribute to a large increase in the numbers of homeowners seeking short sales.

Between 2005 and 2008 RealtyTrac has estimated that there were 3,262,036 HELOCs originated with an estimated balance of $158 billion that are still open loans.  Those equity lines are set to re-set between 2015 and 2018, many on properties that are still underwater.  The problem however isn’t just possible negative equity; it’s dealing with potentially higher payments.

The first 10 years of a HELOC are what’s known at the draw period when the borrower can draw from the line of credit, and repay as needed.  The payments during this period are interest only.  However at 10 years, the line of credit is no longer available and the outstanding balance must start to be repaid as an amortized loan, usually over 20 years.

So for example, if a homeowner has an equity line with a balance of $125,000 at 3.4% their interest-only payment would be $354.  When that loan re-sets and the homeowner is paying principal and interest payment more than doubles to $718.54.  This could pose a real problem for households where post-recession income gains have been limited.

Need to discuss a possible short sale?  I have seven years of experience successfully negotiating short sales throughout San Diego County.

 

December 6, 2010

2nd Lien Holders Standing in the Way of Recovery

Posted by martikilby under 2nd mortgage, foreclosure, Short Sale | Tags: , , , , , , |
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Over the past two years we’ve seen an increase in the number of short sales as underwater homeowners try to avoid foreclosure.  Realtors and Federal policy makers have applauded this movement as a means to encourage sales and spur the market recovery.  Too often however, 2nd lien holders are blocking the short sale and forcing homeowners into foreclosure.

In a short sale, the property is offered for sale for less than what is owed.  Provided the final sales price is reasonable, and the homeowners can prove that they are unable to continue to make mortgage payments, most lenders will accept the short sale as it costs them far less to take the loss than to foreclose.  However, if there is a 2nd mortgage on the property it becomes a much more complicated transaction.

When there are two or more liens on the property, the 1st mortgage is in the primary position and when reviewing a short sale, the lender will generally approve only a token payment of $2000 – $3000 to the junior lien holder.  So on a sale of a $320,000 property with a $400,000 1st mortgage and a $50,000 2nd mortgage the lender in the first position will recoup approximately 80% of the original loan amount (less fees and expenses), but the 2nd mortgage holder will recoup only about 5 – 6% of their investment.

As a result, 2nd lien holders are in no hurry to approve a short sale and what develops is a sort of “chicken game” between the negotiator for the first mortgage, the negotiator for the 2nd, and the Realtor or negotiator representing the homeowner.  The poor buyer who is trying to purchase the home is at the mercy of everyone involved.  Often the lender in the 2nd position will ask either the homeowner or the buyer to come up with additional funds to at least get them a 10% return.  Although this might only be a few thousand dollars, that might be enough to kill the deal.  For the 2nd lien holder, they might choose to just wait for a better offer where the buyer will agree to pay, or they will agree to the sale but file a deficiency judgment against the homeowners.

According to CoreLogic, a company that tracks foreclosure data, of the 1.33 million homes that are in some stage of foreclosure, over a third have a 2nd mortgage.  Many of these 2nd mortgages were underwritten to allow the homeowner or buyer to borrow 90 -100% of the home’s inflated value.  Sorry if I’m not sympathetic, but it was a risk the banks knowingly took.  The strategy back-fired as values plummeted, but now the banks holding these 2nd mortgages need to just write-off the loss and get out of the way. 

How to protect yourself in a short sale transaction with a 2nd mortgage?  Make sure your Realtor knows how to play the game.