Conroe – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Tom about short sales. Here was Tom’s Question.

“My Ex-wife decided to Short Sell our former house. Unfortunately we both signed the mortgage when we bought the house together. I think that means I am still liable for the debt.

She got the home after the divorce. The court gave her the home in the divorce. The market has declined and the house is worth about 120k less than the mortgage amount.

I have a good job and some assets. Will I have to pay back the bank ofr the money they lose. (My ex is selling because of financial problems.)

Also, someone said I might have to pay income taxes on the written off debt. Is that true? Please help me out here. Sincerely, Tom.”

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Here was our answer. Tom, you probably should talk to a good lawyer. This is not the standard short sale. There might be tax laws that will allow you to not be liable for the tax liability on the written off debt.

In my opinion, the Tax Law allows you to write off most of the forgiven debt on a short sale. You have to short sell the house before the end of 2012 and have lived there for 2 of the last 5 years.

Your ex probably meets that criterion. I would think that since she lives in the house, then you wouldn’t be liable for the taxes. But, then again, I am not an accountant and don’t know how the law would affect such a unique situation.

Will you have a deficiency judgment? We can’t know for sure because there are so many variables involved. However, in about 80% to 90% of the time, you won’t have a deficiency.

That is because most lenders just forgive the debt. They have found it tough to collect the upside down debt. Most people are short selling because of financial problems.

They are struggling to avoid bankruptcy without a large deficiency judgment. When they see a $100,000 deficiency, then they will probably just declare bankruptcy. Then the lenders gets nothing anyways.

Check with a competent short sale realtor in your area. They will be able to give you a good idea of whether or not you will have to pay the deficiency. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at . I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 936-321-2977

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Conroe loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Laura Austin.

Laura is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Realty.

Phone: 936-321-2977. .

View My homes for sale at .

Laura Bolieu Austin specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Conroe Texas. Conroe Loan Modification Help, Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Short Sale Realtor. Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Laura Austin, Keller Williams Realty, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax adviser before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go through with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Laura's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams Realty.

This information on Conroe Short Sales: My Ex Is Short Selling. What Can I Do? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

Conroe – The Stop foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Susan about short sales. Here was Susan’s Question.

“My home is scheduled to be going on the courthouse steps in about 2 months. I had thought about short selling, but a friend told me I wouldn’t have enough time to do it.

Because of that I didn’t pursue a short sale earlier. Recently I decided to look into it further. It looks like a good option compared to foreclosure. My question is this.

Do I have enough time to short sale my house, or is the foreclosure already too far along? Please let me know. Sincerely, Susan.”

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Here was our answer. Susan, we can still help you with a short sale. Most lenders will postpone a foreclosure when a short sale offer is in place. Yes, a short sale usually takes 2-6 months to process.

However, many lenders will postpone the sale while a short sale is in the works. In addition, some short sales go faster than the normal 2-6 months.

If your lender owns you loan in house, then the decision maker will be easy to reach. They can approve or deny the short sale in a matter of a week or two.

So, please let us help you. We have a good success rate even when the foreclosure process has already been started. As you well know, a short sale beats a foreclosure because you can buy another home much sooner. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at . I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 936-321-2977

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Conroe loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Laura Austin.

Laura is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Realty.

Phone: 936-321-2977. .

View My homes for sale at .

Laura Bolieu Austin specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Conroe Texas. Conroe Loan Modification Help, Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Short Sale Realtor. Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Laura Austin, Keller Williams Realty, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax adviser before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go through with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Laura's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams Realty.

This information on Another Common Conroe Short Sale Myth: The Foreclosure Process Goes So Fast That I Don’t Have Time To Short Sale is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

Do you plan to purchase a new home?

It’s an exciting and appealing option. But buying a newly constructed home typically entails considerably more steps and decisions than most existing-home transactions. It’s hard enough to keep up with all the details, much less know how to make the best decisions. Your new home buying experience will be more successful and enjoyable if someone is looking out for your interests.

Builders and their representatives may be searching for buyers to purchase their product, but only a buyer’s representative will be 100 percent loyal to you, providing advice and guidance on:

 
Builders’ reputations - A qualified buyer’s rep will be familiar with builders’ reputations and references and should be able to help you make a good choice.

Inventory - Builders aren’t obligated to show you every new home they have for sale, much less other builders’ homes. In contrast, a buyer’s rep helps you see the full range of new and existing homes on the market.

Contract review - A buyer’s rep can alert you when a builder’s deal seems one-sided and advise when legal counsel is needed.

Disclosures - Buyer’s reps are familiar with desired property disclosures (environmental hazards, Megan’s law, pests, pollution, etc.) and can help you obtain these from a builder.

Upgrades - Gain input from a buyer’s rep on which upgrades are most likely to improve your home’s resale value, as well as guidance on making sure your home’s price doesn’t exceed its appraised value.

Inspections - New homes are inspected for compliance with municipal building codes at several stages in the construction process. However, your buyer’s rep can help arrange your own independent inspections, providing another level of assurance that any problems will be spotted and resolved.

Financing - Buyer’s reps are familiar with a wide range of financing options. They can advise you on the merits of a builder’s options (if financing is offered) or suggest other lending sources.

Closing considerations - A buyer’s rep can alert you to issues that may not be addressed, including title insurance and protection against mechanics’ liens.

Sale of existing home - If your purchase also entails selling a current home, you’ll appreciate having someone representing your interests and coordinating details on both sides of your transaction.
These are just a few ways buyer’s representatives can improve your experience when purchasing a new home. To learn more, talk to your Accredited Buyer’s Representative.

The Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation is awarded by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), a subsidiary of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

Conroe – Yes, short sales actually help preserve home values in a neighborhood. Here is why.

Most people short sell their home while they are still living in the home. They are maintaining the home, mowing the yard, keeping the air conditioning on, etc.

Most bank owned properties are empty for 3-6 months, if not longer. No one maintains the home during that time period. Empty homes are easy targets for vandalism and thieves.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

The grass and yard get overgrown. Pools deteriorate and the water turns green with algae.

In some Southern States, such as Florida, if a home is not air conditioned during the summer, then mold will grow on the walls inside.

In the Northern States, if a home is not heated during the winter, then pipes can ice up and break causing a lot of plumbing damage.

Even things as simple as sprinkler system can have problems when they aren’t used for 3-6 months. A sprinkler system contractor recently told us that if the system isn’t ran at least once a month, then it can have problems.

All these things added together cause bank owned homes to sell for much less than a short sale. That is why you should be proud that you are short selling your house.

You are doing a big part to help keep the housing market and your neighborhood. In addition, you are helping the entire economy because the housing market is such an important part of it. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at . I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 936-321-2977

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Conroe loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Laura Austin.

Laura is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Realty.

Phone: 936-321-2977. .

View My homes for sale at .

Laura Bolieu Austin specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Conroe Texas. Conroe Loan Modification Help, Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Short Sale Realtor. Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Laura Austin, Keller Williams Realty, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax adviser before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go through with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Laura's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams Realty.

This information on How A Conroe Short Sale Helps Preserve Neighborhood Values is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

Your Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) is a trained expert on buying homes. But he or she is not the only person with helpful advice. Consider these home-buying tips from other consumers—people who recently completed their own real estate transaction—and the suggestions they’d offer to other buyers.

1. Start your search by interviewing several buyer’s agents and checking their references. Make sure you’re working with someone you trust.
2. Market knowledge and experience are important, but the best agent is one who will take the time to get to know you and understand your housing needs, as well as your personality and communication preferences.

3. Your fi rst negotiation is with your agent. Read all agreements and ask questions about anything you don’t understand.

4. Take time to do homework on your needs and wants. Get a solid grip on what’s ‘essential’ (whether it’s price, location, certain home features, etc.) versus what’s ‘nice-to-have.’ Your agent will be more successful in helping you fi nd the right home if you’re able to clearly communicate your preferences.

5. Don’t waste your agent’s time viewing properties that might not fi t your needs. For instance, if you’re uncertain about the neighborhood, drive by the home on your own and ask yourself if you’d be happy in this area.

6. The real estate search process can be stressful, but don’t buy a home that doesn’t feel right. After all, this will be your ‘home,’ the place where you’ll be living, eating and sleeping for years to come.

7. Communicate fairly and honestly with your agent. If anything starts going amiss, discuss it immediately. If, for example, your agent seems more attuned to their own home preferences than yours, talk about it right away and revisit your priorities.

8. Respect your agent’s market knowledge and consider their perspectives. Their experience does give them important insights into future resale values, up-and- coming neighborhoods, easy home modifi cations and other factors that buyers may not be attuned to.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

Conroe – The Stop Foreclosure Institute recently received a question from Dan. Here was Dan’s Question.

"I recently purchased another home and tried to sell my former home. It isn’t selling and I can’t afford to make both payments. The home won’t rent for even 1/2 of the mortgage payment.

An agent told me the house is worth about $50K under the mortgage amount. Is it realistic for me to try the short sale? The only hardship created was when I decided to move to a larger home for family. Dan."

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Here was our answer to Dan’s Question.

Dan, I think you can short sale your house. Do you have a legitimate hardship?

I know you said you needed a larger house. However, if you also moved for a job transfer, then most lenders would consider that a legitimate hardship.

A hardship is not black and white. Some lenders would consider your situation a hardship. More often than not they will approve the short sale.

Others would not and won’t work with you on a short sale. In addition, the lender may not work with you until you have missed a payment or two.

Whether or not you miss a payment is your decision. You should weigh your options and decide whether or not you can live with the resulting credit damage.

Many lenders will work with you on a short sale even before you have missed a payment. If you were working with us, then we would help you. But, we would have the expectation that it would be a 6-12 month process.

Make sure that you work with a competent short sale agent. Look for someone that is a short sale expert. Ask them how many short sales they have sold.

Ask them if they have worked with your lender in the past. Then you will be able to judge whether they are qualified to help you. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at laura@realtytx.net
 

Laura Bolieu Austin specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Conroe Texas. Conroe Loan Modification Help, Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Short Sale Realtor. Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Laura Austin, Keller Williams Realty, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax adviser before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go through with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Laura's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams Realty.

This information on Conroe Short Sales: Is My Hardship Legitimate For A Short Sale? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

When home buyers outnumber sellers, the result can be a multiple offer scenario. If you’re searching for homes
in a competitive market environment, you’ll want to take time to understand the dynamics of multiple offers and
understand how this might impact your negotiating strategy. Some questions to discuss with your buyer’s representative:

Will I know if I’m in a multiple offer situation?
Not necessarily. Typically it works to a seller’s advantage if
buyers are told they are competing with one another. But
a seller must give their agent permission to disclose the
existence of other offers before this can be shared with your
buyer’s rep.

How will offers be presented to the seller?
The seller decides how they want this handled, either
individually or as a group presentation. Once presented, a
seller can elect to accept (or counter) one offer, reject all
offers, or reject all offers in conjunction with a request to
resubmit a “highest and best” offer.

Will the details of my offer be kept confidential from 
other buyers?
The only way to preserve confi dentiality is to ask the sellers
to sign a confidentiality agreement before presenting your
offer (which also applies to their agent). However, if the seller
decides to have a group presentation of offers, you’ll either have
to withdraw your offer or revoke the confidentiality agreement.

If my offer has the highest price, can I be confi dent that 
I’ll beat out other buyers?
No. Sellers can accept whichever offer they consider “best”
and that may be based on other factors, like the certainty of
closing (e.g., the buyer is already approved on their mortgage)
or fl exibility on closing dates.

What are my options for writing a stronger offer?
In addition to fi rming up your fi nancing (or paying cash) and
offering fl exibility on timing, there are a number of other things
you can do, including eliminating contingencies, increasing
your earnest money deposit or paying closing costs, to name a
few. Discuss your options with your buyer’s rep.

If I don’t want to compete with other buyers, can I withdraw 
my offer?
Yes, as long as you deliver notifi cation to the seller revoking
your offer before they’ve accepted it.
Every home buyer benefi ts from having their interests
represented in a real estate transaction, but in a multiple
offer scenario, you’ll gain even more if you’re working with an
Accredited Buyer’s Representative. Discuss these and other
questions with your buyer’s rep so you can anticipate each
step in the negotiation process and improve the likelihood
of a successful outcome.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

Conroe – Some buyers think that since it is a buyer's market, then they can make any crazy demand of a seller. And they can't understand when the seller isn't excited by their lowball offer.

Here is an example of a recent story where this happened. A buyer makes an offer on a short sale.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

1. The buyer puts no money in deposit for the home. In other words, they have about zero risk. (Meanwhile, the seller is still risking foreclosure.)

2. They are putting $150,000 down on the property, but won't bother putting any more than $1,000 in escrow and only after the short sale is approved.

3. They are only allowing 30 days for short sale approval. (News flash: Most short sales take an absolute minimum of 60 days to be approved.)

4. They are demanding the seller take the property off the market and not accept backup offers.

Is this a little one sided or what? If you are a short sale seller, then they agent representing you should ask for a better offer. You need the buyer to have a little skin in the game.

If not, then you dramatically reduce the odds of successfully short selling your property. Thinking about a short sale?

I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at realtytex@gmail.com
 

Laura Bolieu Austin specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Conroe Texas. Conroe Loan Modification Help, Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Short Sale Realtor. Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Laura Austin, Keller Williams Realty, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax adviser before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go through with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Laura's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams Realty.

This information on Conroe Short Sales: Is this a reasonable offer from a buyer of a short sale property? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

Conroe – A lot of people in today’s lending market are stuck. They locked in their interest rate when rates were higher. Now, they are barred from refinancing because they are upside down on their house.

Whenever they apply for a new loan, the first thing the lender says is, “The current property value is less than what you owe. We can’t lend you enough money to pay off your old lender.” Do they have any options?

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

Their best option is probably a loan modification. Their lender is more than likely to work with them since their home dropped in value.

They may have to stop making payments before their lender will approve a loan modification. But, some lenders are even modifying loans that are current.

I’ve heard of homeowners stuck with a loan where the payments are going to gradually increase over time. Their current interest rate is 6%. But, it is going to increase by 1% a year until it hits 9.5%.

They can afford the home at the current interest rate. But once it goes higher, they will have to do something. Why not do it now?

Take the onetime credit hit and lock in a reasonable interest rate. Some people have been able to get their interest rates on jumbo loans reduced to between 4% and 5%.

Many loan modifications will even reduce your interest rate as low as 2% for 5 years. But, stick to your guns and lock in a reasonable rate for the remainder of the loan.

You don’t want to have to apply for another loan mod in 5 years. (Most people don’t see how interest rates could possibly go any lower.)

We offer a loan modification guide to consumers. Here is what we cover in the Stop Foreclosure Institute's Loan Modification Insider Secrets Guide.

* An easy to understand, Step By Step Guidebook.

* How to write a Hardship Letter that gets your loan modification approved.

* Three big loan modification mistakes and how to avoid them.

* Loan Modification from the lenders point of view.

* How the Making Home Affordable Program can help you.

* What not to do so you don't risk being carted off to jail.

* How to calculate your budget properly to increase your chance of success.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at www.RealtyTx.net.

Laura Bolieu Austin specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Conroe Texas. Conroe Loan Modification Help, Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Short Sale Realtor. Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Laura Austin, Keller Williams Realty, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax adviser before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go through with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Laura's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams Realty.

This information on Conroe Short Sales: How To Lower Your Mortgage Payment Without A Refi is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com

Conroe – This is one of the first questions potential short sale sellers ask us. “I heard of something called “forgiveness of debt income and that it is taxable. How does that work?” they ask.

The following article is my personal opinion only. I recommend that you consult with a competent legal or tax professional before moving forward with a short sale.

In most cases the answer is that a short sale will usually not cause you to owe income tax.

Click here to discover how other sellers successfully did a short sale and avoided foreclosure.

It used to be that you owed income tax on any forgiveness of debt.

When a lender decides to forgive all or a portion of a borrower's debt, the forgiven amount is considered as income for the borrower and is liable to be taxed.

Here are the following ways you can qualify to short sale a property without any tax liability.

Short Sale of a Primary Residence. The Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007 (and it’s extension in the 2008 Federal Bailout) now allows you to short sale a primary residence without any tax liability.

Today when a homeowner short sales a primary residence, they can file a simple form and the forgiven debt is no longer taxable.

The amount of forgiven mortgage debt allowed to be excluded from income tax is limited to $2 million per year.

Short Sale of a Non-Primary Residence: If the property you are selling is not a primary residence, then you may be eligible for tax relief if you are considered insolvent.

I don’t know the exact guidelines, but insolvent is usually considered when your total gross debts are more than your total gross assets. I’m sure a good tax professional can give you more information.

Click here to view the IRS’s website about the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act and Debt Cancellation.

Click here to view the article on the IRS’s Website: Mortgage Workouts Now Tax-Free for Many Homeowners.

Thinking about a short sale? I can help you short sale your property and get back on your feet. Send me an e-mail at . I will contact you for a free consultation.

When we talk, I will explain how the process works in detail and answer any questions you may have. Or, if you prefer, you can call me at 936-321-2977

Discover how other sellers successfully completed a short sale and request a free consultation by clicking here.

Thinking about a loan modification? Our Conroe loan modification kit has the instructions you will need to get a loan modification approved with your bank. Click here to request a copy.

Thanks for reading this, Laura Austin.

Laura is a Real Estate Agent at Keller Williams Realty.

Phone: 936-321-2977. .

View My homes for sale at .

Laura Bolieu Austin specializes in loan modification assistance and short sales in Conroe Texas. Conroe Loan Modification Help, Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Short Sale Realtor. Conroe Short Sales. Conroe Realtor.

Copyright 2012 SFI Marketing Institute, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Important Notice

Laura Austin, Keller Williams Realty, and the Stop Foreclosure Institute are not affiliated in any way, shape, or form with the government. Our services have not been reviewed or endorse by the government or your lender. Most lenders willingly work with agents on short sales. Why?

Because most short sales are beneficial to a lender. If you accept our offer to help you on a short sale, your lender may not agree to a short sale or to modify your loan. We do offer a loan modification kit.

However, the likelihood of negotiating a modification is like everything else in life. It takes work and persistence to convince your lender to modify your loan. No matter what you or we do, your lender may not approve a loan modification.

We do not recommend that you stop paying your mortgage, because this will cause damage to your credit and could cause you to lose your home. Because we know avoiding foreclosure is so important to any homeowner, we recommend that you speak with the appropriate legal or tax advisor before making any decision.

This is not intended as legal, technical, or tax advice. Please speak with a licensed professional before making any decision. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed as of the date of writing.

You have the option to reject a short sale or loan modification from your lender if it does not meet your approval. If you decide not to go thru with the short sale, then you do not have to pay us our fee. We normally make a real estate sales commission for helping you on a short sale.

The views expressed here are Laura's personal views and do not reflect the views of Keller Williams Realty.

This information on Conroe Short Sales: Will I Owe Income Tax After A Short Sale? is provided as a courtesy to our viewers to help them make informed decisions.

Laura Bolieu Austin
ABR, CDPE, CDRS, CSSBR, CHMS,
CSP, GRI, SFR, SRES, TAHS,
Certified New Home Buyers Representative
REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty - Conroe
936-321-2977 Direct
281-798-2911 Cell
866-347-2911 Fax
Laura@RealtyTx.net
www.RealtyTx.net
www.StopForeclosuresInTX.com
www.AvoidForeclosureInConroe.com