Short sale investors has a specialty – that certain type of deal that they do better than any other. In many cases, the success of a deal can tilt on how acquainted you are with the type of negotiations that go along with it. If you are getting started in the short sale business, you may want to spotlight on a type of property or transaction that is easy to find right now, in today’s market, to maximize your ability to find deals.
One way to maximize your opportunities is to acquaint yourself with the HAFA process. The HAFA acronym stands for Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives, and it is the government has designed to help homeowners who cannot keep their homes avoid foreclosures. This program is mandatory in many cases – particularly if a home is occupied by the owner – so being familiar with the process can give you a huge advantage in the short sale process.
HAFA homes usually come with a large list of requirements that may hinder other short sale negotiators. For example, before homeowners can qualify for HAFA, they have to try to qualify for HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program), a government program designed to alter mortgage terms to help homeowners remain in their homes. Even if a homeowner just wants out of a home, if they want out through HAFA – and the incentives that come with this program – they have to try HAMP. Your ability to navigate the HAMP process can make you a more attractive candidate to ultimately perform their short sale.
You might want to avoid the stresses of government programs all together. In that case, you will want to look for homes and homeowners who simply cannot qualify for participation in HAMP and HAFA, since people who do qualify are often required to go through the entire process whether they like it or not. You might want to focus on vacation homes, rental properties, second homes or other types of properties, but are not owner-occupied.
It makes no difference what field you pick, creating a short sale niche for yourself can be a great way to get moving in the short sale buisness faster. Remember that there are many short sale investors out there who are looking for their own specialty deals, so if you stumble upon a deal that does not work for you, you may still be able to monetize that lead if you know another person who is looking for that type of deal.
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categories: Real Estate, Real Estate Investing, Short Sale