New rules make short sales much easier (and better)!

What if I told you that in less than a month 90% of all short sale will be preapproved by the lien holders prior to going on the market, and the bank would not be able to reduce commissions and the written approval of the offer would come in two weeks and the bank could not require you to close earlier that 45days and the seller would get funds to move out and the bank would have to fully release the seller…


November 30, 2009, the Obama Administration released guidelines and uniform forms for its Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program (HAFA). Modified HAFA rules for loans owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac will be issued in coming weeks. HAFA does not apply to FHA or VA loans.
About HAFA
HAFA, which will help homeowners who are unable to retain their home under the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP), provides incentives in connection with short sales and deeds-in-lieu of foreclosure.
The program:
• Complements HAMP by providing a viable alternative for borrowers (the current homeowners) who are HAMP eligible but nevertheless unable to keep their home.
• Uses borrower financial and hardship information already collected under HAMP.
• Allows borrowers to receive pre-approved short sales terms before listing the property (including the minimum acceptable net proceeds).
• Prohibits the servicers from requiring a reduction in the real estate commission agreed upon in the listing agreement (up to 6%).
• Requires borrowers to be fully released from future liability for the first mortgage debt and, if the subordinate lien holder receives an incentive under HAFA, that debt as well (no cash contribution, promissory note, or deficiency judgment is allowed).
• Uses a standard process, uniform documents, and timeframes/deadlines.
• Provides financial incentives: $1,500 for borrower relocation assistance; $1,000 for servicers to cover administrative and processing costs; and up to a $1,000 match for investors for allowing a total of up to $3,000 in short sale proceeds to be distributed to subordinate lien holders.
• Requires all servicers participating in HAMP to implement HAFA in accordance with their own written policy, consistent with investor guidelines. The policy may include factors such as the severity of the potential loss, local markets, timing of pending foreclosure actions, and borrower motivation and cooperation.
• Does not take effect until April 5, 2010, but servicers may implement it before then if they meet certain requirements The program sunsets on December 31, 2012.



TIMELINE
Notification
If a servicer has not already discussed a short sale or DIL with the borrower, it must notify the borrower in writing of these options and give the borrower 14 calendar days to respond, orally or in writing. If the borrower does not respond, that ends the servicer’s duty to give a HAFA offer.
Servicers must consider HAMP-eligible borrowers for HAFA within 30 days after the borrower does at least one of the following:
Does not qualify for a HAMP trial period plan
Does not successfully complete a HAMP trial period plan
Is delinquent on a HAMP modification (misses at least 2 consecutive payments)
Requests a short sale or DIL –*note the borrower does not have to attempt modification first.

Short Sale Agreement
The borrower has 14 calendar days from the date of the Short Sale Agreement (SSA) to sign and return it to the servicer. The SSA must give the borrower an initial period of 120 days to sell the house (extensions permitted up to a total of 12 months).
Purchase Offer
Within 3 business days of receiving an executed purchase offer, the borrower (or agent) must submit a completed Request for Approval of Short Sale (RASS) to the servicer, including
a copy of the sale contract and all addenda
buyer documentation of funds or pre-approval/commitment letter from a lender
all information on the status of subordinate liens and/or negotiations with subordinate lien holders.

Within 10 business days after the servicer receives the RASS and all required attachments, the servicer must approve or deny the request and advise the borrower.
Closing
The servicer may require the closing to take place within a reasonable period after it approves the RASS, but not sooner than 45 days from the date of the sales contract unless the borrower agrees.
The servicer must release its first mortgage lien within 10 business days (or earlier if required by state or local law) after receipt of sales proceed from a short sale or delivery of the deed in the case of a DIL. Investor must waive rights to seek deficiency judgments and may not require a promissory note for any deficiency
FAQS
HAFA is a complex program with 43 pages of guidelines and forms. To help you better understand the process, NAR has prepared some frequently asked questions that address the basics. For more information on HAFA and more detailed FAQs, please visit www.realtor.org/shortsales

Who is eligible for HAFA?
The borrower must meet the basic eligibility criteria for HAMP:
Principal residence
First lien originated before 2009
Mortgage delinquent or default is reasonably foreseeable
Unpaid principal balance no more than $729,750 (higher limits for two- to four-unit dwellings)
Borrower’s total monthly payment exceeds 31% of gross income

How is the program being implemented?
Supplemental Directive 09-09 (November 30, 2009) gives servicers guidance for carrying out the program. A short sale agreement (SSA) will be sent by the servicer to the borrower after determining the borrower is interested in a short sale and the property qualifies. It informs the borrower how the program works and the conditions that apply.
After the borrower contracts to sell the property, the borrower submits a “request for approval of short sale” (RASS) to the servicer within 3 business days for approval. If the borrower already has an executed sales contract and asks the servicer to approve it before an SSA is executed, the Alternative RASS is used instead. The servicer must still consider the borrower for a loan modification.
What are the steps for evaluating a loan to see if it is a candidate for HAFA?
1. Borrower solicitation and response
2. Assess expected recovery through foreclosure and disposition compared to a HAFA short sale or deed in lieu of foreclosure (DIL)
3. Use of borrower financial information from HAMP
4. Property valuation
5. Review of title
6. Borrower notice if short sale or DIL not available (to borrowers that have expressed interest in HAFA).

What are the HAFA rules regarding real estate commissions?
The guidance states that a servicer may not require a reduction in the real estate commission below the amount stated in the SSA, up to 6%. However, if the servicer has retained a vendor to assist the listing broker, the vendor must be paid a specified amount from the commission.
What else should I know?
The deal must be “arms length.” Borrowers can’t list the property or sell it to a relative or anyone else with whom they have a close personal or business relationship.
The amount of debt forgiven might be treated as income for tax purposes. Under a law expiring at the end of 2012, however, forgiven debt will not be taxed if the amount does not exceed the debt that was used for acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of a principal residence. Check with a tax advisor.
The servicer will report to the credit reporting agencies that the mortgage was settled for less than full payment, which may hurt credit scores.
Buyers may not re-convey the property for 90 days.

What servicers have opted in? There are 115 banks listed on the making homes affordable website. Here is a short list of the “most popular” banks. Allstate Mortgage, American Home Mortgage, Aurora Loan Services, Bank of America, Bank United, Bay Federal Credit, , Chase Home Finance LLC, CitiMortgage, Inc., Countrywide Home LoansServicing LP, EMC Mortgage Corporation, Farmers State Bank, First Bank, GMAC Mortgage LLC, GMAC Mortgage LLC, Ocwen Financial, Litton Loan Servicing, Saxon Mortgage Services, Schools Financial Credit Union, The Golden 1 Credit Union, United Bank, Wachovia Mortgage, Wells Fargo Bank, [list shortened. Email me for a complete list]