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What it is - a way not to pay tax on the difference between what you owe and what the bank accepted either on a short sale or foreclosure.

Your lender calculates the difference between what you owe and the short sale or foreclosed price obtained at the sheriff's sale and calls it a GIFT to you. They will send out a 1099-C form, Cancellation of Debt, by January 21, 2008.

You, in turn, file form 982 to exclude this "gift" up to $2 million dollars as long as it is your principal residence.

In ta… Continue

The HOPE for Homeowners (H4H) program was created by Congress to help those at risk of default and foreclosure refinance into more affordable, sustainable loans. The program is effective from October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2011.

Lenders will assess their portfolio and perform a cost-benefit analysis to determine if they will offer this program to struggling homeowners. They (lenders) will take a loss on the diference between the existing loan and the new loan, with is set at 90% of the curren… Continue

You'll hear the myth over and over: "Short sale protects your credit." It's simply not true. Your credit will tank whether you do a short sale or a foreclosure. Experts say agents who repeat that mantra do so out of ignorance or self interest, take your pick.

A short sale will ruin your credit rating. It might not happen right away, but sooner or later, unless the bank has specifically agreed not to report the shortage, the bank will report it as a Score Factor Code 22. That score factor relate… Continue

* Foreclosure or Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure
Steep says a seller who wants to buy another home after foreclosure will end up waiting about 24 to 72 months before a lender will offer any kind of interest rate that makes sense.

Coy says, "The good news is a short sale will allow the consumer to obtain an institutional loan for a new home within two years".


* Short Sale
Some agents say the good news for short sale sellers is the wait is much shorter before buying another home, and… Continue

How is the Seller's Credit Affected?

According to David Steep, division manager at Vitek Mortgage, sellers will take as big a hit on their credit report by going through foreclosure as giving the lender a deed-in-lieu of foreclosure. Steep says the points lost on a FICO score are as follows:

* Foreclosure or Deed-in-Lieu of Foreclosure
Both of these solutions affect credit the same. Sellers will take a hit of 200 to 300 points, depending on overall condition of credit. This means if a seller's… Continue