Looking to buy a short sale?


	A short sale means the homeowner's lender agrees to receive a reduced payment to release a mortgage. For more information, you can contact me through my site or e-mail me. I'm happy to answer any questions you have regarding real estate short sales.

Purchasing a short sale in Clearwater, Florida on your own is risky. Contact Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. for expert advice.

Are short sales good deals?

From time to time, yes. Often times people hear the words "short sale" and automatically think of a seller that is insolvent and needing to sell their house fast to avoid further financial problems. This is at times the case and can be an opportunity for a buyer to do well from another's misfortune. Alternatively, a lender may consider a short sale even if the seller isn't delinquent with their payments, but property values have fallen. In these cases the discounted price may in fact be consistent with current market values instead of below.

Are you ready to buy a short sale property?

Before making any purchase offers, do your research. Using an experienced real estate agent from Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. to help you research a property will help you make educated decisions. We can help find out to whom the property is titled, the balance still owed to the lender, and whether or not a foreclosure notice has been filed. Acquiring this info can help you make a decision about how much to offer.
Hire a real estate agent with short sale experience. The real estate agents at Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. can aid you in expediting the transaction and make certain you're protected. Don't let inexperience slow down the closing process. Let our experience and knowledge work for you.
Even with an experienced real estate agent and under the best of situations, buying a short sale property will usually take longer than a typical real estate transaction. Be aware that many short sales will not close in less than 30 days. Remember that you're not only getting approval from the seller, but the lender must also agree to the sale terms. It's not uncommon that your offer will be seen by a committee to approve which will add time - sometimes even 2 to 3 months.
Home protection plans, buyer credits and allowances, and closing cost concessions are typically not negotiable when working with a short sale. The lender will be selling the property "as is" which means the lender isn't going to pay for repairs. Always reserve the right to have the property inspected for pests, HVAC, electrical, and other critical areas. At Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc., when we write an offer, we're looking out for your interests above all else and will always suggest that you make your offer contingent upon the inspection results.

If you're ready to buy, whether it is a short sale or a typical home sale, Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. can help. Utilize our experience and knowledge of real estate to be certain you're getting a fair deal and are protected during the whole process.